As used in the text, what does the phrase "mere presence of the chair… | Verbal SAT Question

The following text is from the 1993 novel La Maravilla by Alfredo Véa, Jr.

A young boy is sitting in a room with his grandfather, Manuel, whose old rocking chair was previously located outside the house.

The boy took comfort in the mere presence of the chair in the room. Comfort in its movement. It was dry from years in the sun and bent from infrequent rain, and only in the last few months had Manuel seen fit to bring it inside with the family.

As used in the text, what does the phrase “mere presence of the chair” most nearly refer to?

The chair’s relative simplicity compared with the rest of the furniture

The simple fact of the chair’s existence

The chair’s lack of appeal to the rest of the family

The idea that the chair is unremarkable