Bedstead - Bedstead

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Item
Bedstead
CIS Survey ID
CIS-2013-1151
Other Name
Tester bed
Object Type
Furniture
Date Created
1835 - 1850
Place of Manufacture
United States
Size
102" x 63 1/2" x 82"
Material
Walnut veneer; walnut; tulip poplar; pine; iron
Upholstery
No upholstery remains, but underside surface of tester has many holes and upholstery tacks present. Same for proper left side of medial tester stretcher around perimeter of board. Fragments of upholstery observed caught under nailheads. This board also has a large hole in center likely for rosette. Four wrought iron eye hooks still screwed into underside of tester structure, likely to hold rope to draw curtains up or down.
Marks/Inscription/Labels
"3 / K" stamped incuse on interior faces of headposts (that receive headboard), and on interior face of proper left foot post. "16" stamped with same method on interior face of proper right foot post. Note: incuse marks are all above foot rail and below waist molding. Roman numerals created by incised tool marks found on interiors of rail glue blocks and in adjacent surface of post. These are likely not original to bed's manufacture.
Accessories/Hardware
Wrought iron hooks made for headboard attachment.
Condition
Overall excellent condition despite lack of upholstery and missing mattress supports. Likely that rails are not original to manufacture of bed since they do not fit cleanly into posts (tops of mortises in posts visible on all four corners).
Media Type
image/jp2
Description
Four post bed with solid walnut paneled headboard and wide shouldered crest topped with diminutive broken pediment; full tester above. Posts are square in section and uniform in width below applied waist molding, then taper to top adjoining a square block with molded profile, all supporting box-shaped tester structure (unupholstered and exposed) possibly of tulip poplar. Tester structure mortised and tenoned with medial support, and then likely fit over dowels in tops of posts. Tester with tall cornice surmounted by convex and concave moldings above, all veneered in walnut. Block feet are created by facing posts with four plinths of walnut ending with spool-like profile. Some facings have lap joint, others mitred. Headboard with stumps of two tenons on either side that would have inserted into head posts (mortises now filled). Headboard connects to posts by iron hardware that hooks panel into eyes screwed into patched sections in posts. Walnut veneered pine rails have undulating, double ogee profile on side rails. Head rail is flat with added serpentine brackets. Interior surfaces of rails painted dark brown, have pine corner blocks that fit over double full tenons of rails and are further secured with three iron slotted screws. Rails fit into posts, likely with tenon. Side rail interior surfaces built up with additional strip of pine near bottom surfaced with rectangular pine blocks above, alternating to create slots to receive mattress supports. One board with old surface spans bed, possibly original to Johnson ownership. Seven other pine boards are replacements.
Physical Location
Gulf Coast (U.S.)
Date Surveyed
2013-07-30
Source
Classical Institute of the South at The Historic New Orleans Collection
Repository
The Historic New Orleans Collection (http://www.hnoc.org)
Disclaimer
The information contained in the Gulf South Decorative and Fine Arts Database was collected in the year referenced under Date Captured". The Classical Institute of the South will update object records with new information to the best of its ability but does not guarantee that data contained within the records is current.
Digital Collection
Gulf South Decorative and Fine Arts Database
Contact Information
Contact the Historic New Orleans Collection for more information about use and reproduction. louisquery@hnoc.org
Credit
Gulf South Decorative and Fine Arts Database, Classical Institute of the South at The Historic New Orleans Collection.
Rights
Physical rights are retained by The Historic New Orleans Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with US copyright laws. The information and images in the Gulf South Decorative and Fine Arts Database may be used for non-commercial and educational purposes, but they must be accompanied by the “Credit” statement above.
Type of Resource
still image
Type of Resource
three dimensional object
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