Modern beds may win on comfort, but their forerunners were often status symbols of much grander proportions.

In one of the most famous wills of all time, Shakespeare bequeathed to his wife his second-best bed. There was nothing particularly unusual about the mention of a bed. In many households, from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, the bed was the most valuable possession, and was frequently listed in wills and inventories. As well as being at the centre of family life, bedrooms served as reception rooms and meeting places. The importance of the bed was reflected in its high cost and lavish construction, which often included carved details and expensive silk and velvet drapery.

THE FOUR-POSTER

The four-poster (or tester) bed developed from the medieval canopied bed, with wood substituted for some of the original fabric at the head to cut down the cost. Curtaining was still used at the front and sides, however, to keep out the cold and the light.

Antique Collection

Four-poster beds were popular throughout the 16th and 1 7th centuries, and continued to be made in the 18th century to the same basic design, but with a distinctive Neoclassical lightness and elegance. The four-poster was revived yet again in the late Victorian period. Seventeenth-century four-posters are the earliest beds to appear on the market in largely original condition, but are scarce and may cost £ 15, 000-£20, 000. Late Georgian four- posters, although more common than early i8th-century pieces, are seldom sold complete, but may then fetch over £20, 000. Bedposts are more affordable: a well carved 18th-century pair will cost £2000-£3000. Four-posters dating from the 19th century are more stiffly carved than a8th-century examples. Well carved 19th-century oak beds fetch between £3000 and £5000, and less than £2000 if more clumsily carved.

OTHER STYLES

The most magnificent of all antique beds are `state’ beds of the 18thC century, finely upholstered Baroque constructions specially made for royal visits. Most of these are now museum pieces, and seldom come up for sale.

More easily collectable are bedr00m suites produced by furniture-makers such as the Frenchman Linke in the Ioth century. These Louis XV and XVI-style pieces, often richly gilded and upholstered, or in fine marquetry, now sell for up to £10,000, or £2000-£5000 for less elaborate examples.

The Victorians loved brass beds, which were made in large numbers throughout the 19th century and are not difficult to find now. A plain design should cost under £500, a more elaborate one rather more.

The French boat-style lit-en-bateau of the early 19th century re-created the bed as a throne as well as a sleeping place. Elaborate specimens with tent-like canopy and lavish ormolu mounts can fetch £10,000 or more, less omate ones about £3000-£4000.

CRADLES

Three main styles of cradle are of interest to collectors. The earliest are made of oak in the shape of a miniature ark, with a canopy at one end and vase-shaped finials. The sides are sometimes carved, and the whole cradle is mounted on solid rockers. Such examples fetch £400-£800. This style continued with only slight modification from the Middle Ages to the end of the 18th century.

Around that time, mahogany cots hung from a frame became fashionable. Most examples available today date from the Regency and late Georgian periods, and usually have slatted sides and little decoration. They usually sell for £400-£800.

Victorian cradles keep the suspended 18th-century design, but are usually of brass or iron, painted white, rather than wood, and generally sell for less than £500.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Baby Beds and Cradles