Page:Southern Antiques - Burroughs - 1931.djvu/207

Rh  continue through the century, with the patriots of the Revolution sleeping in four-posters richly draped, but the tendency from then on toward more lightness, until 1800, when draperies were omitted.

As a rule, the majority of the beds that have been collected had plain headposts. Not until the Sheraton period do we find all four posts with carving. Headposts before this time, hidden by the draperies, were nearly always square, tapered posts. Fine Hepplewhite and Sheraton examples have been found. Beds of unusual beauty are shown in this book, one showing reeded posts and spade foot. The Empire beds were enormous, some with posts eight inches in diameter and nine feet tall; and in the early part of this period, some were elaborately carved with the leaf and pineapple motifs.

PLATE I. . (North Carolina—c. 1720-1740). A particularly fortunate find is represented in this piece, one of the earliest American beds found. While not one of the most beautiful of early American beds, it surpasses in interest many of those excelling it in the matter of good looks. No bolts are used in its construction, and it was held together with rope. The measurement of such beds, head to foot, was usually about six feet, and the mystery is as to how sleep was induced within such restricted limits. The type of foot used in the bed resembles the mule-foot. Octagonal posts, as shown here, are also found on later pine beds. This bed was found near Bath, and was at one time a part of the equipment of the home of one of the state's oldest and most representative families. (Property of J. K. Beard).

PLATE II. . (South Carolina—c. 1780-1790). In striking contrast to the old walnut bedstead is this finely carved and inlaid Hepplewhite bed, showing the reeded post and spade foot, typical of the period. Beds of such high quality as this were usually made with canopy top; but in most cases, due to so many of the beds having changed hands the tops, as a rule, have been discarded. In beds such as this, a top mattress was laid on a second feather-filled mattress, placed next to slats, which fulfilled, in some uncertain way, the purpose of the modern springs. The headposts of such beds were usually hidden and were plain in style until the period of Thomas Sheraton. This bed was found in South Carolina, where many such beds have been discovered, most of them, however, with the posts cut off and being used for other purposes. (Property of J. K. Beard).

PLATE III. . (South Carolina—c. 1800). This Sheraton bed carries the turned headposts. The spade foot is discarded in favor of the reeded and turned feet, which were usually bound with brass. The leaf carving is still found on the finer beds of this period. This is one of two beds, identical in workmanship, although one is slightly larger than the other. (Property of Mrs. T. C. Gower).

PLATE IV. . (Virginia—c. 1820). This bed of the