What is Affenlight's Furniture?

Many of the contents of Affenlight's old-fashioned office are symbolic of the rich history of Westish. In fact, even the chair on which Affenlight normally sits is rich in Westish lore: "The chair was sturdy and comfortable, suitably presidential--it had supported the buttocks of every Westish president since Arthur Hart Brink himself" (428-429). It is now Affenlight's turn to sit in the chair, which symbolizes his own dedication to all things Westish and his own presumed place in Westish history. Affenlight's life is bound up with the long life of the school itself--a possible reason (on the level of symbolism) why Affenlight dies so soon after learning that he will leave his furniture, his office, and his very place within Westish.