This type of double chair is a widespread piece of furniture among Ashkenazi Jews, (in Eastern Europe largely), used for the ceremony of circumcision. According to the Torah, there are two signs of the commandment between God and the Jewish people: the observance of the Shabbat and the circumcision of infant boys on the eighth day after their birth. The rituals of the circumcision ceremony developed on the one hand as a result of strict and careful rabbinic rulings, and on the other hand from superstitions and legends. Traditionally, the godfather (kvater or sandek) sits on the left, holding the infant in his lap, while the other seat is reserved for Eliyahu (the Prophet Elijah), who is thought to protect the infant and supervise the ceremony. The figure of Eliyahu is closely connected to the events of birth and circumcision in Jewish tradition. His presence wards off evil, malicious demons. The double chairs of Eliyahu have been common items of furniture in synagogues. Their design and style represent typical furniture art of the period the chair was made. Such double chairs have been in general use in Hungary until the end of the 19^th century, when state health authorities started to pay more attention to births and events related to it, and wanted to make compulsory the supervision of official midwives during circumcision ceremonies.