Antique 18th Century Four-Post Beds
FOUR-POST BEDS, danhauser biedermeier sofa 1700-1800
In the early 18thC, waterfall 1920’s dressing table up to about 1730, waltham grandfather clocks cir 1920 the grandest beds were the immensely tall and richly upholstered four-post and half-tester type introduced from the European mainland, the wood furniture louis a few of which have survived in stately homes. From around 1730, french empire style marquetry round center table these went out of fashion, english walnut writing table 6 drawer and the standard bed in households of substance was the four-poster. The richer the owner, hard soldered silver tureen the more lavish their decoration and hangings.
Many 18thC bed posts were later made into standard lamps and plant and candle stands.
Right, antique french louis xvi style medallion bergere bed a ’state” bed, antique drop table with metal feet about 1695, japanese sevres marks very similar to contemporary designs by Marot.
STYLE AND APPEARANCE
1700-1750: Full height panelled headboard with minimal carving. Sometimes a show-wood foot rail. Panelled tester gradually replaced by inner fabric covering or drapes. Generally a shallow frieze carved with classical ornament below straight cornice, verge and folio escapement noise often surmounted by bold gadrooning. High (sometimes 8-ft) posts divided into three sections —a column (often fluted) above a vase (popularly with acanthus carving) above initially a square foot, inlaid game table floral later, japaneseantique tcarved wood buffet with ivory inlay a cabriole leg with lion’s paw or claw-and-ball feet.
1750-1765: Gradual reduction in height. Fashion for Gothic, antique malachite gueridon rococo and chinoiserie designs brought elaborate gilded carving for headboard and cornice. Low, 19th century furniture and russia shaped headboard (separate from posts) backed by and sometimes covered in drapery. Fabric tester with shaped, louis settee cost usually serpentine, museum 18th century pottery with neptune cornice, 1930s dresser with inlay often elaborately scrolled. Frieze frequently absent. A popular design for posts was Gothic cluster columns above acanthus-carved vase and cabriole feet.
1765-1800: Generally no headboard, serpentine front buffet only drapery. Cornices simpler, carved oak figural furniture bracket but often still serpentine, federal and empire style furniture pictures or arched with corner vase finials. Shallow carved frieze. Domed canopies fashionable. Popularly fluted posts, gateleg table asian motif 10 foot long generally
more slender and tapering, jw benson wrist watches above vases or urns on square feet. All parts painted or carved with neo-classical motifs such as anthemions, double hung prisms antique lustre husks, oak drum table paterae, wallendorf germany and ring or ribbons and garlands of flowers.
Rococo-style bed, davenport secret drawers release cxatch posts concealed by hangings.
BEDS AND BEDROOM FURNITURE
MATERIALS
Mostly mahogany (walnut until about 1730) joined after 1770 by satinwood. Generally beech, silver box lion head paw feet or rarely, de berrettino oak, 1750 english furniture mid georgian for parts concealed by upholstery, 18th century glass designs gilding, antique buffet st louis and so on.
George III mahogany four-post bed, woottons desk about 1790, robson & sons sideboard
CONSTRUCTION
Posts generally form continuous uprights from floor to cornice, antique dresser with ship carving on drawer with rails tenoned into them; sometimes secured by metal bolts rather than pegs, classic car wood tray table the holes concealed where necessary by decorative rosettes or suchlike. Bedding still mostly supported on ropes; wooden slats, giltwood music chair running from side to side, hamilton & inches teapot were introduced around 1750.
DECORATION
Principally carving. Figuring of mahogany a decorative feature on panelled headboards. japanned decoration for chinoiserie pieces around 1750-1765. Painted decoration fashionable after about 1775 on a painted or polished wood background.
FINISH
Wax polish; japanning, vintage three prong silver fork siam gilding, corner cupboard, inlay, secret drawer, 18th century paint.
RELATIVE VALUES
Plain mahogany relatively cheap in four figures; up to five figures for later, antique ambry painted and satinwood beds.
Selection of designs for 18thC bedposts.
Tags: bed, bed posts, cabriole leg, chinoiserie, DECORATION, FOUR-POST, George III, mahogany, motifs, rococo style, STYLE, upholstery