Having dealt in antique iron beds for close to 40 years, it always drives me nuts when I see a nicely staged room that has a old bed that is missing pieces. You’d be surprised how many decorators don’t give an incomplete iron bed a second thought. To me it’s as bad as a dresser being put in a shot that is missing a drawer. You just wouldn’t do it.
I this photo the room has been nicely put together and even a unique old horse collar had been used as a canopy holder for the bed. But look closely at the bed. Do you notice there are just straight cut of poles at the corners. They don’t have a casting or a brass ball. This bed originally had a horizontal brass bar that went across the top of the head and footboard. On the ends of the brass bars were brass collars that went over the top of the corner polls. There were also 3/8″ screws coming out of these corners that brass corner finials screwed down on to. It might not be as glaring a mistake as missing a dresser drawer……. but in antique bed circles it’s just as bad.
Not only is the value enhanced on an bed that is complete. But the look, because it had been designed with the brass, is also enhanced when the bed has everything that was originally intended on it.
Also ……. buyer beware……. there are more dealers than you can imagine that would sell you an bed that is incomplete….and never mention a thing about it. Be sure to scrutinize whatever you plan on buying.
Cathouse Antique Iron Beds
Cathouse Antique Iron Beds specializes in antique iron bed frames, and conversions. Cathouse Antique Iron Beds has the largest selection of antique iron beds in the country.
