The witch chair was the most frequently used torture equipment during modern witch pursuit.
The chair was a wooden arm armchair, whose seat, backrest, Fussbrett and arm rest were provided with metal points. The accused, who was suspected of being a witch and being in league with the devil, was completely undressed and forced to sit in the chair. The accused was not allowed to move in order to relieve the pain of the metal points digging into her flesh. This procedure could drag on up to 36 hours. Many chairs had a device under the seat with which it was possible to kindle a small fire. The iron points could also be heated and increase the agony enormously. If a woman survived this torture, it was proven that she is a witch and the accused became condemned to death. The logic behind this conclusion was that only the devil and/or black magic could have given the woman the strength to survive the torture. If the woman confessed her misdemeanours before completion of the torture, she was condemned also to death. Therefore, once accused, no woman could escape death. Many women died, before they were allowed to leave the chair.
(Source: economypoint.org)
