Posted 12 years ago
Bwammy
(2 items)
Bed inherited 1872 from g-grandmother from Douglas Co. IL All 5 children born (1890s) in this (double) bed. Someone has written 1817 in pencil on the back but I think it is pure Victorian. The top 3-4' of the backborad are not shown because we have only 8' ceilings. It has this back board, the footboard (close-up) & 2 side boards & is Walnut. When we inherited it, it was pure black (varnish). We refinished it only down to the stain & covered in polyurethane to preserve & not allow it to turn black again. Realize that we devalued it, but it was too ugly to live with. Anyone have an idea abt this gorgeous bed? Thank you. Brenda in Memphis
Woops! Inherited in 1972.
Yes, those are gargoyles!
What an absolutely beautiful bed!! I understand exactly what you mean about refinishing furniture to be able to live with it. If it's going to live with me, I'm going to have to like the way it looks. Pieces for resale are a whole different ballgame. I'm wondering if rather than it being 'pure black varnish' if it had been ebonized. I was also wondering if the headboard has actual carving in the wood, or are they applied pieces? Personally I can't live with ebonized furniture and have either given it to my daughter or refinished it, though I never use polyurethane.. but that's just my own preference.
That being said and remembering I am in NO way an authority on these things, I think you're right. I know it's a great old Victorian bed! Now it's just a matter of 'style'. The foot board ( I can see it better than the headboard, so that's what i went with) leans toward greek revival style with that pediment at the foot, but the simple carvings beside it are almost Eastlake looking. I found a couple of pictures, one of which is quite like yours. Heavy, with lots of burled veneer makes me think it's a little older than 1817, too. If we're wrong, I'm sure someone will come along and enlighten us both. You did a great job with it! And thank goodness, you didn't paint it!!!!! :-)
Here are a couple of photos you might like to check:
http://www.antiques.com/vendor_item_images/ori_372-34278-1026614-Antique-Victorian-Canopy-Bed-Grand-Burl-Wood-19th-C-picture2.jpg
http://www.antiquariantraders.com/ebay/4558.jpg
BEAUTIFUL-- I don't think you devalued it at all.
When originally sold (agree it is Victorian probably 1870s- 1880s), I would think it looked as it does in your photographs and not black. There would be little reason to add the burl wood (veneer?) and then make it black.
Scott
Good point, scott.
Beautiful!! And I understand about the refinishing. All antique furniture darkens, and I could not live with it as such. At auctions I have attended they have already refinished the items , so I don't think that decreases the value. People that really don't know tell me they will not refinish their furniture because they are afraid of decreasing the value, yet they are not going to sell it. I can't stand to see beautiful wood left ugly and not repaired either. You are very lucky to have inherited this beauty!