American Arts and Crafts and Art Deco Beds
AMERICAN BEDS About 1890-1940
Gradual move towards greater simplicity, difference between english american oak furniture with emphasis on comfort and practicality rather than appearance.
Headboard of Sheraton revival bedstead.
Craft movement favoured bedsteads with head and foot composed of vertical bars set into horizontal rails between low, william iv cane seat beech dining chairs square-section posts.
Sheraton revival (1890-1910) had little to do with Sheraton beyond use of boxwood stringing on mahogany head and footboards.
Jacobean revival followed, semicircular bookshelf designs using caned panels, brass keyhole plate for hanging mirrors and large picture frames often oval, small roman numeral ebony mantel clock antique set between turned uprights. Industrial design rejected all such trimmings and opted for austerity. Art Moderne went in opposite direction, antique horn chair applying luxurious.
Below, antique american bedside tables carved headboard of Jacobean revival bedstead.
Oak, antique mahogany shaving stand ash, george i shell carved side chair walnut for Craft and Jacobean types, 19th century mahogany secretary mahogany for Sheraton revival. Industrial designers liked hygienic, rococo porcelan bowls value painted surface on headboards, 4 drawer chest with eagle, wings outspread or chromium-plated steel tubes. Art Moderne raided rain forests for exotic timbers used in solid and veneer form. Mattresses filled with coil springs rested on the side-irons of bedsteads or the sprung bases of divan beds. Headboards often upholstered.
Traditional types made by traditional methods. Industrial and Art Moderne used new techniques, georgian style bookcase/cupboard combination machine processes, stickley cherry valley collector to achieve flush surfaces, 1920’s antique platinum diamond initial pin brooch bold shapes.
Sheraton: Inlaid stringing, william davis clock maker crossbanding. Jacobean: Turning, writing desk bureau with book shelves simplistic carving.
Art Moderne: Marquetry, numbered mark for chamber pot quartered veneers (SEE EUROPEAN CABINETS, asian antique display cabinet p. 213).
French polish, elaborate covered headboards cellulose, minton jardinieres george jones paint, inlaid wood antique bed, portuguese lacquer.
Best buys: Craft bedsteads, baluster lamps Art Moderne divan beds.
Tags: AMERICAN, American Beds, art deco, art moderne, arts and crafts, BEDS, bedstead, european cabinets, mahogany, marquetry