Posted 8 years ago
mcheconi
(42 items)
These are wooden doll beds made in Brazil in the late 1930s, early 1940s. They are miniatures of a popular bed called "cama-patente" (patent bed). This hardwood bed is considered the first design furniture produced in Brazil. It was designed in 1915 by a Spanish immigrant, Celso Martinez Carrera, a cabinet maker that worked for a railway company in the city of Araraquara - SP. The bed was a commission from a local doctor who needed beds for his newly opened hospital. WWI interrupted the imports of many products from Europe including the English iron beds used then. Mr. Carrera developed this easy to assemble, three-parts bed made out of cheaper-than-iron wood, with a spring frame to make it more confortable to use with the cheap straw mattresses used by most of the population. The affordable bed was an instant success and Mr. Carrera started his furniture business. But he made a huge mistake: he didn't patent his design. Another immigrant, an Italian named Luigi Liscio patented Carrera's design in 1920 and Celso Carrera had to stop making his own creation. Luigi Liscio named the bed "Cama Patente" (Patent Bed) for this reason, and made the product the most popular bed in Brazil at the time. He sold millions of them throughout the country and even in Europe and US. The L. Liscio & Company S.A. closed its doors in 1968. These doll beds follow a later Liscio's company design (from the late 1930s), being easy to disassemble and reproducing the curious spring frame (which was famous for the squeaky noises it made) and other details. First picture shows a single bed from late 1930s-early 1940s (unknown maker), with turned bed posts, while the second picture show a later model made by an obscure toy factory called Fábrica de Brinquedos Pompéia (Pompeii Toy Factory), owned by two gentleman by the name "Granzotti & Martinelli". The bed posts are simple wood cilinders with bakelite finials fixed with nails. The third picture shows another early model, unknown maker, with wood turned posts and wood finials fixed with brass screws. They are all different designs, with different sizes. First one is 20,5 inches (L) x 10,5 inches (W) x 12 inches (H). Second one is 17,5 in. (L) X 10 in. (W) X 11,5 in. (H). Third one is 21 in. (L) X 12 in. (W) X 10 in. (H). Last picture shows them all. For those who want to know more about this interesting object, google "Cama Patente" to see images of the actual bed. Merry Christmas to all CW friends!
SEASON's GREETINGS to YOU & YOURS MCHECONI !!! ! !!!
Thank you vetraio! Wish you and yours ALL THE BEST!
Wow. Really cool especially since these have the springs built into the base !! I have never seen that before on models. These must have been used as salesman samples also since the detail is so exemplary. Beautiful post and such beautiful beds also, lucky you to use your amazing eye to score these, congratulations.
Hope you got my Christmas email, so nice of you to send one to me.
I have sent you a Email :-) I do believe these are salesman samples like Phil said . A Doll bed would not have springs . Much more valuable as salesman samples ! Wonderful find I love them . Merry Christmas to you and blessings for the New Year in Brazil .
Thank you Nicefice, Aura and kyratango!!
Mani & Phil, thank you for your Xmas messages and your kindness! These miniature beds could be salesmen samples, it is hard to tell. I consider them as toys cause there's a tag in one of them that reads "Pompeii Toy Factory" in Portuguese. It is also not impossible that a toy factory would make samples for Mr. Liscio's company. Unfortunately Brazil isn't famous for preserving history...
I am researching newspapers from the period trying to find any info on this "Fábrica de Brinquedos Pompéia" but apparentrly it was a very small company.
May your dreams occur this New Year, may you and your family have much love, and love to you, mcheconi !!