It’s commonly thought that back in the early to mid-1800’s most of the iron beds that were being made were coming out of the tri-state area of Ohio, Pennsylvania and W. Virginia. So you certainly wouldn’t expect a northern foundry to be producing a bed with a western flare to it. Then how did such a bed with the casting of the “Lone Star” emblem of Texas, encased in a “horse shoe” come to be? Here’s the best plausible scenario……….
As I mentioned….. most all of the metal beds that were being produced in the 1800’s were coming out of the small independently owned foundries that located themselves close to the Pittsburgh Steel mills. So they would have easy access to the raw materials they needed to produce their beds. But…..it is known that the Mississippi River was also a means with which to get those raw materials from up North to as far south as New Orleans, Louisiana. It is also know that Baton Rouge was a large producer of the fancy iron work that is still to this day prevalent throughout the French Quarter of New Orleans. I’ve actually pulled a good number of fancy scrolled beds out of the Baton Rouge, New Orleans area over the years.
Along the Mississippi there were a number of towns who’s ports became bustling centers of agricultural commerce. But none were as big as the city of Natchez. Natchez was also no farther than a few hundred miles from Texas. 2 and 2 make 4………The iron ore and thick wall steel tubing made it’s way down the Mississippi on flat boats and barges from the northern foundries. Those materials used in the production of iron beds were then unloaded in Natchez. There is a good possibility that those raw materials made their way over to Texas and iron beds were produced there. Another school of thought is that Natchez and possibly even Baton Rouge would take numerous orders from people in Texas for beds that symbolized the Lone Star states desire for independence.
Either way…… beds that were specifically made for Texas have been found. The casting in this photo was on a antique iron bed I had, and actually ended up selling to a couple from Texas.
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.
