The House of Miniatures

THoM Product # 40033 - Chippendale Low Post Bed

Catalog Description: Few of the original low post beds have survived, making this accurately-detailed miniature a real treasure. Mattress included. Circa 1750. 3"h x 5 1/4"w x 6 3/4"d.

Circa: 1750

Style: Chippendale

Period: Colonial

Design © 1978

To be entirely correct this should be referred to as a bedstead since the mattress itself is the actual bed. Today when we think of the bedsteads of this era we naturally picture in our minds the attractive canopy or testor beds but in reality throughout the land in the 18th century the simple bedstead was by far the most common. Originally sleeping arrangements were quite crude, just a mattress or pad placed on the floor. Later the mattress was placed on a frame to raise it above the drafty floor. A rope support was added for greater comfort, then posts were added, along with a head board, for decoration. Still later curtains were hung from a frame on the ceiling as further protection from drafty rooms. The first canopy bedsteads were probably the field or campaign beds so that the gentleman officers could transport their comfort to the military encampments. Since the early low post bedsteads were relatively simple, few have survived.

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