Antique Bed

CLOSE STOOLS, bason stands NIGHT COMMODES, dutch chest brass corners BEDSIDE TABLES, glass cut biscuit barroll 1900 POT CUPBOARDS
About 1700-1890s
Despite the existence of outside privies, chippendale mahogany sideboard chamber pots were generally used at night and various pieces of furniture were devised in the 18thC to conceal them. These ‘conveniences’ mostly became redundant when flushing water closets were perfected in the late 19thC. Many have subsequently had their innards removed.
STYLE AND APPEARANCE
The most common types seen today are:
Close, olbrich table necessary or night-stools. Made until about 1780. Generally a square box on feet with a hinged lid and carrying handles at side. Before 1700, antique clock with signature g.p often upholstered; alternatively oak with bun feet and iron handles. After 1700, william and mary chests of drawers walnut (and later mahogany) with brass handles and bracket feet. Dummy drawers on front.
Night table or ‘commode’, antique arm chair commode about 17401810. A squarish box raised on straight, gate leg rectangular long drop leaf table square legs with a cupboard for the pot or a cupboard above a commode seat sliding forward on hidden castors. The front legs split to allow Mahogany tray-top night commode with dummy drawer, 18th century blue and white transfer ware liverpool pottery about 1770.
movement and the pot was hidden by a deep front-rail or apron masquerading as one or two drawers. Generally a tray top, library table d shaped often with handles pierced in the raised sides. Tambour-front doors common around 1790.
Bedside tables, trestle table and baltimore about 1780 onwards. A small, corner cupboard values simple cupboard on tall, chippendale gentleman’s wardrobe press narrow, silver maker, holland aldwinckle & slater cigarette box legs, draw leaf table carved usually turned though sometimes tapering. They had a raised gallery on three sides and small knob handle. Usually mahogany, indian ivory walking sword sometimes satinwood. Often in pairs. Victorian examples heavier than Georgian; thicker legs and gallery; often redder mahogany. This type popular for late Victorian/Edwardian revival styles.
MATERIALS
Commonly mahogany; at various times oak, chinoserie cabinets wood bases antique walnut and satinwood.
CONSTRUCTION
Standard practices employed. Sliding seats generally moved on bearers. Mostly solid wood used; only occasionally veneer.
A, antique gothic figures carvings tray-top night commode with tambour-fronted cupboard, english mahagony tall dressers antique about 1770
B, pembroke antique pair mahogany tray-lop bedside table, victorian chair pearl inlaid about 1760, queen anne dining table weak , antique hanging corner whatnots C a Sheraton inlaid
mahogany bedside table about 1800 and D a Victorian burr walnut bedside cabinet, reproduction antique louis 14th chair about 1870.
VICTORIAN POT CUPBOARDS
Commonly tall and narrow, nantgarw china antique dealers on plinth base with single panelled door with wooden knob. Usually square-sectioned, desk and tallboy sometimes circular. Latter often had inset marble top, regency ironstone pottery value occasionally scalloped sides. Sometimes low with hinged top and double doors revealing seat. Mahogany or walnut. After about 1870, 19th century bed headbord more decorative, antique clawfoot table value with carved door panel, double wing chair shaped feet and gallery at back.
Fitted pots had turned circular wooden lids with a recessed wooden knob.
DECORATION
18thC: Minimal carving, campaign chair with wooden handles rare. Brass handles according to prevailing fashions. Later small brass knobs.
19thC: Regency period, whole wall antique bookcase sometimes restrained inlay. After about 1870 only, chippendale rounded higher back chairs panels of carved decoration in prevailing Gothic, art nouveau sideboard Renaissance and 18thC revival styles. Sometimes additional carving on uprights, antique mahogany end table paw feet friezes and galleries. Small knobs until about 1820, double ended settee thereafter larger wooden knobs universal. Metal drop handles after about 1870.
FINISH
Wax polish.
RELATIVE VALUES
Conventional bedside tables may be priced in thousands, oriental antique chair but ‘night tables’ and commodes usually less, wood inlay board game table with pedestal turns even when 18thC. Original commode fittings nowadays a bonus. Pairs command much higher prices.
COMMODE CONVERSIONS
Commode chairs, 19th century gateleg table which looked like other chairs of their day, standing mahogany carved cheval mirror but had deep, elizabethan period,pictures of a bookcase,table,window shaped aprons around the seat to conceal the pot, flemish walnut furniture 17c 18c were made in large numbers in both sophisticated and country styles. Because they sell better standard chairs, tuttle silversmiths and cocktail shaker many have had their seats replaced and their aprons removed. Similarly ‘commode chests’, how much is a round antique pedastal table worth? made to look like small chests of drawers, antique beechwood hanging corner cabinet have been turned into standard chests of drawers, antique leg design their small size making them particularly valuable. On any smallerthan-average chests therefore, curved dining table slope check the interior carefully for signs of alteration.
Commode showing interior fittings and wooden pot pulls out from side.
Popular design for mass-produced Victorian pot-cupboard, antique carved beechwood oval table mahogany with marble top.

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BED-STEPS
About 1790-1900
George III bed-steps, difference bohemian and venetian 19th century glassware Brussels carpet on treads.
People of consequence had many layers of mattresses on their beds; sometimes the bedding was so high that steps were needed. For a long time bed-steps were crudely made and hidden beneath the bed; but from about 1790 they doubled as commodes and became more significant and decorative pieces of furniture.
Many are now sold as ‘library steps’, rounded front commode their innards removed and the carpet originally covering their treads replaced with leather.
STYLE AND APPEARANCE
Two phases:
1790-1830: Generally three steps, cabinet c. c 1770 sycamore veneers the lowest a platform base and the upper step or steps formed a receptacle for a chamber pot with hinged lid or lids. Sometimes a bidet was fitted
Sotheby`s in the remaining step; very occasionally, antique christening shell this had a front-opening cupboard. Commode drawer slid forward to provide a seat. Steps mostly straight-fronted, decanter produced for the prince of wales caernarvon in 1969. occasionally curved. Some with raised sides. Legs were short, antique flemish twist rocking chair either square sectioned and tapering, commode side tables splayed, antique french cornices sabre or turned.
1830-1900: Generally two steps only. Most were a rectangular box form with broad, convex antique mirror with metal work, made in england stumpy turned legs and feet, british antique queen anne chair the front ones moving forward, 7 inch high mantel clocks pulling lower step from underneath a hinged top commode.
George III bed-steps enclosing a bidet, wooden tier table vintage
MATERIALS
Usually mahogany; occasionally satinwood. Oak for Victorian Gothic.
CONSTRUCTION
Early and better quality pieces were veneered, edwardian bookcase with legs otherwise solid. Commode drawer could pull forward on system of counterbalanced weights, antique mahogany leather cane backed chair otherwise on runners.
DECORATION
Simple boxwood or ebony stringing lines on Regency pieces. Carving on more elaborate Gothic examples.
FINISH
Wax polish.
RELATIVE VALUES
Prices very variable, florentine cupboard falling rapidly from thousands (for Regency) into hundreds (for Victorian). Fine timber –
particularly satinwood – a great advantage.
William IV mahogany bed-steps with shaped sides.

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ENGLISH BRASS AND IRON BEDS

About 1825-1900
Ffirst made during the 1820s, 19th century english bronze figures but not generally popular until about 1850. Considered a hygienic alternative to wood, kraak 17th century plates used by all classes. Price was largely dictated by the amount of brass in the construction, short biedermeier empire cabinet or bookcase the cheapest being all-iron or iron with brass knobs and end-rails, library table leather top the most expensive all brass. The best (and largest number of) manufacturers, welsh style dresser f were in Birmingham, setees in front of bed most notably Peyton & Harlow and R.W. Winfield.
STYLE AND APPEARANCE
Some four-post beds were made, white and silver porcelain masks but most were half-tester or had curtains hung from side wings. Straightforward double-ended beds without drapery were increasingly common after 1875.
Designs were variable, walnut four foot drop leaf table generally not following contemporary fashions. Most had a strong vertical and horizontal emphasis; some had fancy scrollwork. Cast decorative cornices were a rare bonus.
MATERIALS
Cast- and wrought-iron and taper brass tubing; after about 1860, antique picture frame with mother of pearl inlay brass-plated steel. Knobs and other ornament sometimes solid cast brass.
Standard double-ended bed showing metal strap frame for mattress.
Half-tester with decorative ends.
CONSTRUCTION
Parts slotted together, small mahogany night tables held in place by tension or by bolts, examples of myott patterns their ends concealed by screw-on decorative knobs or the like. Ornament sometimes welded on.
Mattress-frames were initially interwoven flat metal straps bolted to angled side rails; but by 1900 various wire mesh and spring arrangements were being hooked to the rails through small holes. Entire frame usually dovetailed on to uprights.
Legs invariably fitted with castors.
DECORATION
Iron parts originally japanned to simulate wood; later lacquered plain black.
FINISH
Brass polished; iron painted or lacquered.
RELATIVE VALUES
Perennially popular and increasingly scarce, make an antique candle kite though only immensely valuable if all-brass and of complex design.
TWENTIETH-CENTURY BRASS
Modern brass beds are usually lacquered and therefore need no polishing. But they lack the deep glow and slightly worn look of the real thing.

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ENGLISH BEDS, victorian breakfast table paws on column 19thC

An enormous variety of beds were made in the 19thC. Concern for hygiene brought metal beds (see p. 28) and eventually the end of hangings. Single and twin beds arrived in the 1890s. There are fine 20thC reproductions.
STYLE AND APPEARANCE
Four main types:
Four-post, antique china commode set 1800-1860: Continuing classical designs but heavier. Bun feet, how much is a victorian kidney shaped wine cabinet worth reeding and lotus flower vases common on posts. Decorative shaped head and footboards around 1850 (previosly plain headboards only). Domed and wagon-tile canopies replaced by 1850 by straight concave cornices.
French beds (modern term lit en bateau), 18th century plat rack 1800-1840: In the Grecian style popular for all Regency and Empire furniture.
Like a double-ended sofa; two scroll ends of equal height with deep, georgian antique embossed silver cream jugs usually curved, bunch of grapes pub, john davis, 1700’s, soho show-wood sides. Placed side-on to wall, what is a frieze drawer hangings suspended from pole or wooden canopy attached above. Many discarded when unfashionable, gold gilded vases antique dynasty family asian raised rope sides or converted into sofas. Heavier versions with upright ends made in Gothic and late-classical (18thC) styles during the 1830s and 1840s.
Above, 1896 gate leg table antique French bed. four-post frame with wagon-tilt canopy.
Selection of designs for 19thC bedposts.
Walnut half-tester with plain moulded cornice, antique chamber pots french about 1860.
Half-testers, antique sofa george iv 1840-1880: Wooden D-shaped canopies, antique dining room chairs 1930 mostly with moulded cornice and plain concave frieze; occasionally carved ornament above. Tall, antique buffets marquetry decorative panelled footboard only, glasgow cabinetmakers 1940 many also D-shaped with turned, american armchairs sometimes semi-free-standing posts and finials. Scrolling rococo revival ornament common until 1870s; after, french clockmakers bulle more complex neo-classical carving pilasters, ladies vintage breguet watch, 9ct gold london 1919 urns. Similar, 1920s sideboard marquetry but double-ended beds without canopy made after about 1875.
`Modern’ designs, jacobethan 1930 1890-1915: Show arts and crafts influence. Double-ended, antique small wooden pot with lid head usually higher than foot. Often square-sectioned horizontal and vertical members. Slatted ends of flat panels of veneer. Usually a metal mattress frame.
MATERIALS
Mahogany, pembroke iron daybed with rosewood until 1840, antique etched mirrors walnut after. Oak for both Gothic and for later modern designs.
CONSTRUCTION
Screwed mortise-and-tenon joints, kpm porcelain bird holes filled with decorative rosettes or, vintage spider leg table more commonly, argy cutlery
Elizabethan-style carved bed, antiques arts and crafts desk about 1840.
wooden discs. French beds veneered. Additional support for testers from hidden brackets or ceiling rods or chains.
Mattress supports; stretched canvas, oak folding tea table with inlay design wooden slats. Wire mesh and springs on , canape adjustable pour chateau modern’ beds which had metal rails dovetailing on to projecting metal brackets screwed to uprights.
DECORATION
Regency: metal mounts.
Victorian: Applied split mouldings and carving; figured veneer; inlay of contrasting woods, dark wood cupboards zen pattern ivory, small art deco folding serving table ebony or
mother-of-pearl.
FINISH
Oil or wax polish; French polish on large areas; later oak pieces generally stained.
RELATIVE VALUES
Often large and cumbersome objects and never very popular, gothic chairs for church so prices generally low; almost always near the bottom of the four-figure range.

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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.

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TESTER BEDS
About 1500-1690
Right, horn snuff cans and lids very grand late- 16th/early- 17thC bed with some later restorations.
Atester is a canopy, antique enamel locket and tester beds, louis xiv chaise lounge or ‘testers’ are popularly known as four-posters, pierced cupboards despite having only two free-standing posts, antiqueenglish upholstered chair with curved arms and legs the head-posts being the headboard uprights. A development of earlier couch and wainscot beds, pierce brevete wrist watch and of medieval half-testers, styles gateleg drop leaf table antique mahogany rectangle these were the most impressive beds of the 16th and 17th century, replace wood molding antique dresser challenged only by ‘French beds’ (fashionable about 1650.1700) which were completely covered in rich upholstery (and hardly any of which have survived).
Testers themselves are exceptionally rare in their original form; many were remodelled or reduced in size when ‘Jacobean’ furniture was fashionable in the 19thC.
STYLE AND APPEARANCE
A standard, antique greenish glaze pottery jug genuine tester-bed comprises: I Headboard, crest emblem on antique furniture leg divided horizontally into two panelled sections and a deep frieze, german china set turn century the lower section (hidden by bedding) plain, decalcomania antique glass ball and the upper section and frieze elaborately carved. 2 Panelled tester (or canopy) carved with repeated designs and bordered by a cornice and carved frieze. 3 Bedstock, antique oak tridarn with interlaced ropes to support the bedding. 4 Two foot-posts, carved wood flatware cabinet the lower parts in square section and the upper turned with columns above distinctive cup-and-cover mouldings. Cups were
Below a fully upholstered ‘French’ bed.
Cup-and-cover leg: above the start; opposite, five leg victorian tables the finished leg.
broadest on Elizabethan beds, antique round back chair more vase-shaped on later examples.
As time went on, antique dressers with three large drawers and two small drawers with wooden wheels testers became increasingly ‘architectural’. Carved linenfold and Gothic architectural motifs were gradually replaced during the 16thC by Renaissance designs which commonly featured arcading, missing chateau mantel pilasters (sometimes in the form of terminal figures), antique gate legged table strapwork, carpets kazak iranian lozenges, regency eagle mirror with balls and chain scrolls and full and half roundels.
MATERIALS
Surviving examples are mainly oak. Occasionally walnut. Holly, josiah wedgwood pottery pompeii box, longines eiffel tower watch bog-oak, antique lantern clocks poplar and sycamore used for inlay, narrow breakfront storage joined around 1600 by imported ebony, fine sheraton pembroke rosewood ivory and mother-of-pearl.
CONSTRUCTION
Framed and panelled with pegged mortiseand-tenon joints. Rails pierced and grooved horizontally for bed cords. Side rails occasionally pierced vertically to hold wooden staves to secure bedding. Iron curtain rings on rods on inner side of tester frieze.
DECORATION
Mostly carving, pawfoot furniture at its most exuberant on Elizabethan pieces. From around 1600, antique desks space behind drawers occasionally inlay of simple floral patterns, card table wrought iron legs and traces of painted or gilt decoration.
Late-16th/early-17thC tester bed with fine marquetry decoration.
FINISH
Originally varnish, wallendorf porcelan later wax polish. Paint or pigment rare. Either wax polish or thick, original bentwood rockers dark stain on Victorian
reproductions.
RELATIVE VALUES
Late Victorian reproductions are relatively cheap. Near-intact Elizabethan originals are very expensive. Later alteration need not affect value to a great extent.
Above, listing of goldscheider figures foot-rail of bed with holes and grooves to take’bed-lines” (ropes) to support mattress.
BEDS THROUGH THE CENTURIES
From the Middle Ages until the
mid-19thC, palladian sideboard the beds of prosperous households were valuable items, irish old pine bobbin leg table symbols of their owner’s status. Although the wooden framework became a feature, plaster mold oval picture frame the rich fabrics suspended from their canopies were the tester’s chief glory. Once these had deteriorated, china madeczechoslovakia the frames were
generally replaced.
Most surviving beds from this period are of this grand type. (The majority slept on simpler versions, roman clawfoot tables or on plain box or low-post ’stump’ beds.) During the first half of the 19thC countless wooden beds were destroyed in favour of metal in an attempt to exterminate the ubiquitous bed-bugs.

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