Few iron beds, I’ve had in the past 40 years, have ever gotten the response that this one did after being used in a photo shoot with Halle Berry in People Magazine. We had always referred to that bed as the “Peacock” bed because of the similar shape and style of a peacocks feathers and plumage.
To appreciate this particular bed, you have to understand the manner in which beds were made back in t
he 1800’s and how “labor intensive” this one must have been. Each one of those parallel rods had to be individually cut and placed in a mold. Then those rods were carefully positioned in the sandcast molds and were poued with hot molten iron, which would then form the castings and give rigidity and strngth to the overall head and footboard.
It also should be noted that the corner castings on this bed are quite detailed and ornate. Foundries that took the time to make detailed castings were more likely to produce and overall better bed than those that put little imagination and effort into their castings. The “density” of design on the interior of a head and footboard also are a good gauge of the quality of a foundry. Few foundries, and I refer to the manufacturers of beds at the period in time more as “foundries” than manufacturers, because most of the work was accomplished at the foundry. The painting and finishing was usually done n the same building, but in a more sterile/clean room……….so as not to polute the paint or desired finish.
The “Peacock” Bed………… a beautiful example of a very limited edition of original old antique iron beds.
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.
I also invite you to take a look at our company Face Book page for multiple photo albums on Custom Finishes, Canopy Conversions and a comprehensive “Before & After” King Conversions album.
