In mediaeval times, in the great hall, there would be a main table, called a board, since it was pretty much just a board on legs. The farmer, as the main person, would sit on a chair. He sat on a chair at the board, thus he was the chairman of the board.
Rush candles were made by dipping a soft rush into fat. They were held at the centre, so the candle formed the top of a letter T. They would last about 20 minutes. Because of the way they are held, both ends of the rush can be lit at once, thus burning the candle at both ends which would be reserved for special occasions as it would burn very quickly away.
Another expression mentioned is kippers for curtains although from what I can find it should be kippers and curtains. This is a Brummy (Birmingham) expression which I haven't heard before. It means keeping up appearances even if you have to starve yourself to do so. Nice curtains but can only afford kippers to eat.
Source: BBC TV - If Walls Could Talk: The History of the Home 1. The Living Room
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