The two distinctive armchairs that became internet sensations following a viral photograph of President Joe Biden and former President Jimmy Carter have been sold at auction for a substantial sum. The chairs fetched an impressive $10,795 at Christie's, purchased by an enthusiastic collector of American presidential history.
From Plains, Georgia to Manhattan Library
Susan Tane, a former marketing executive and dedicated collector, secured the upholstered, beige-skirted armchairs after initially hesitating about the purchase. She experienced a complete change of heart upon seeing the chairs in person alongside the famous photograph that made them iconic. "I saw the picture of President Carter and his wife, and, I don't know, it just spoke to me," Tane revealed to The Washington Post.
The chairs will now occupy a place of honour in the library of Tane's Manhattan apartment, where she maintains an extensive collection of books about U.S. presidents and related memorabilia. She expressed particular excitement about displaying these conversation pieces among her presidential collection.
The Viral Phenomenon Explained
The chairs gained unexpected fame in 2021 when a White House photograph captured President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visiting former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter at their Plains, Georgia home. The resulting image created immediate internet buzz due to its peculiar perspective that made the Bidens appear unusually large compared to the Carters.
This optical illusion sparked widespread amusement and numerous pop culture references, with social media users humorously suggesting the couples had entered the world of The Hobbit or other fictional realms featuring size disparities. Photography experts later clarified that the distorted perspective resulted from using a wide-angle lens in the confined space of the Carter home, where the photographer couldn't achieve proper distance for a standard frame.
Presidential Connection and Legacy
The chairs originated from the Carter family's personal collection, discovered by Christie's specialist Julia Jones during an assessment of hundreds of items belonging to Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. The former president and first lady passed away in December 2024 and November 2023 respectively, making these personal items particularly meaningful to collectors and historians.
Amy Carter, daughter of the former president and first lady, confirmed that some proceeds from the auction would benefit The Carter Center, the nonprofit organization her parents established to advance peace, human rights, disease prevention, and mental health resources worldwide. "It's just a nice reminder that my parents were meaningful to people," Amy Carter noted, "especially since we're, you know, in the process of grieving them."
A Collector's Perspective
For Tane, the appeal combines historical significance with genuine humour. "It's part humor, part history," she explained regarding her attraction to these particular pieces. When Christie's initially contacted her about the chairs, she showed little interest, but viewing them personally alongside the viral photograph transformed her perspective completely.
Tane plans to use the chairs for reading and occasionally allow visitors to experience sitting in them, though she intends to preserve them carefully. "They're going to get the respect they deserve," she affirmed, acknowledging their unique place in recent presidential history and internet culture.
The sale represents another chapter in the ongoing public fascination with presidential memorabilia, particularly items connected to memorable moments that captured national attention. The chairs' journey from a private Georgia home to a prestigious Manhattan collection illustrates how ordinary objects can become extraordinary through their association with historical figures and viral moments.
