Many of the initial conversations I have with my customers involve their “likes” and “dislikes”, regarding the style of iron beds. I usually ask if the like the straighter line more Austere styles or are they more looking for something with more curves and fluid designs. That question usually prompts one of two responses…….almost universally. “I want something feminine and sexy”, is a very common response. It seems to carry with it their desire for whatever antique iron bed they decide on to have the beautiful flowing curves that beds of that period were known for. The other response is usually the opposite…….”I want something straight without all those feminine scrolls and fancy curves”.
For close to 30 years more people expressed an interest in scrolled Victorian style beds, than any other style or design. In the past 10 years, I’ve seen that preference for fancy styles alter considerably to the point that “straighter line, more Austere” styles are now the most popular. Why? I think a number of reasons com into play. One is what the public is exposed to…….. the “industrial look” with cleaner lines and less adornment, has become very popular with architects and designers alike. So that seems to be what is be photographed and displayed in designer magazines more often. The other thing is the availability of those scrolled and fancy Victorian styles……….they have become incredibly difficult to find. If a person can’t find the style they’re looking for, they likelihood is that they’re going to alter their style and taste to what is available and can be readily found.
Yet the term “sexy” always seems to enter in to the description of what my clients are looking for. It should be noted that as much as 90% of my clients are women. Only about 10% of my clients are men. So the ease with which a woman is going to describe what she likes is usually going to be more direct and to the point, than the men I have. That gets into a whole psychological profile on women’s ability to better describe and verbalize their likes and dislikes than a man.
Can a antique iron bed be considered “sexy”? Absolutely. So you ask……”what makes a bed “sexy”?” Obviously the sensual feminine curves that the foundries designed into their beds back in the 1800’s. I’m sure their intent was to attract the feminine clientele of that period, who were deciding on home furnishings. It’s highly unlikely that a woman would have been drawn to a straight Austere design as much as she would have to a bed that had more fluid curves.
Sexy is always an individuals interpretation. I venture to say you’ll find as many “sexy” fluid designed metal beds from the 1800’s as you with people description of what “sexy” is to them.
The fun thing is that for over 40 years of being in this business I continue to come across unique designs that I’ve never seen before………we’re talking thousands of designs, and I venture to say that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to peoples description of “sexy”.
I hope you’ve found this blog informative . I invite you to revisit my website
to answer any and all questions you might have about antique iron beds.
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