326 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



September, 19 13 



The four-posters have always been con- 

 sidered important leaders in old-time furni- 

 ture, and the most costly, yet no household 

 no matter how limited its means, but 

 possessed one. Sometimes they were very 

 simple affairs and inexpensive, differing 

 from those in richer families, where we 

 find most elegant beds. One of the hand- 

 somest beds found in Salem, Mass., show- 

 ing Sheraton design, is owned by William 

 Crowninshield Waters. It is distinguished 

 by the elegance of its design and marking 

 the Sheraton period by its ornamentation 

 with inlay. The two lower posts show gar- 



draperies. In the olden times, these were 

 very elaborate, often being embroidered silk, 

 or satin. Where the bedsteads are elabo- 

 rately decorated, the draping shows a 

 lighter touch that it may the better display 

 the posts and headboards. 



Every housewife wove her own blankets, 

 which were finished with conventional rose 

 designs, giving them the name of rose 

 blankets. The patterns were wrought in 

 every corner. There are a few specimens 

 carefully treasured by descendants of the 

 makers. With less prosperous families the 

 beds were most simply furnished. The 



lands of flowers exquisitely carved, while A "Pine" Chippendale tour-poster quilt and hanging being often made of 



the upper ones are plain. In size they are owned by Mrs. Gardner Hone, patch, the spreads of homespun linen, blue 



larger than those made previously; the Haverhill, Massachusetts and white being the favorite combination, 



fluted leg places the date of make from 1795 to 1800. On They were edged with a hand-made fringe which is repro- 



the cornice of the bed, which is framed with a gilt-painted duced at the present day by the arts and crafts workers, who 



band, are shown flowers, rich ornamentations being in every are experts in its manufacture. 



corner, while the central figure is a gilt basket containing Feather beds are mentioned in early inventories; they 



two doves. were valued from two to three pounds each. It was an 



The field bed so known on account of its shape, is one impossibility at the time of the Colonies' settlement to fill 



of the most popular of the four-posters. The frame sug- ticks with feathers of domestic chickens and geese. They 



gesting a tent is designed in a variety of forms. It has light were brought from England, piled one upon the other, and 



curved bars overhead in the shape of a heavy tester, which were often so high that a step ladder was used to climb 



gives it the effect of a tent, or as it is commonly spoken of, into bed. In 1647 we read of a "straw" bed; in 1654 a 



a sweep. On account of the small amount of wood used "hair" bed, and in 1673 a "single silk grass" bed was 



in their construction, they are plain and inexpensive. used. Antique four-posters are often imitated and fine 



Generally speaking all four-posters have hangings or original ones are yearly becoming more and more rare. 



Old four-poster in the Major Craft's house, Brookline, Massachusetts. Early period of the nineteenth century 



