There are many things that go in to determining the calibre of an antique iron bed. Here are a few that the attached bed photo have;
Tubing and Rod Size : Most antique iron bed used traditional 1″ diameter tubing and 3/8″ diameter solid rods for the interior design. But when you get in to a higher calibre of bed, the tubing can go up to 1 1/8″ or even 1 1/4″ in diameter. That coupled with being “thick wall” tubing also elevates the structural integrity and weight of the overall bed frame.
Castings/Chills : The quality and detailing of the castings, followed suit with the calibre of craftsmanship that went in to physically producing the bed. Obviously a bed with more interior design and connecting points, which castings were required to cover the connection of one independent spoke or tube, required more castings. So a lot of beautifully detailed castings throughout a bed can certainly elevate its overall appeal .
Design : Obviously a straight line antique iron bed with vertical rods, connecting to a larger horizontal tube , on the top and bottom of a bed……….didn’t require an artistic sense of design to create a bed for the masses. Because thats what the majority of the population were sleeping in. But for those that didn’t want your “run of the mill” straight line design…….. their were always forward thinking artistic types that really reveled in the unique and different designs that didn’t appeal to everyone. These particular beds are now some of the most sought after and collectible, of antique furnishings.
An old timer once told me that if a antique iron bed was fancier and heavier……..it was a better bed. That simplistic rule of thumb hold true today.
Hope you’ve found this Blog to be informative and fun. If so, I hope you’ll circle back around to our website, to see all that we have to offer, when it comes to antique iron beds.
