The Speaker's Chair

[woolly17]

Does anybody know the purpose (if any, other than decorative) of the two round, brown things at head height on the wings of the Speaker's chair in the House of Commons?

[boxtops]

This says it's a classic Pugin style chair http://www.parliament...iors/speaker-s-chair/

Those lumpy bits were for gentlemen to lean their heads on when they were napping, I believe!

[Answerprancer]

They spring in really fast and crush the speaker's head if he says "Semprini".