Antique 4ft 6” Victorian Anglo-Indian Colonial Raj Bombay Teak Four Poster Bed (Circa 1880)

Summary:

• Item: Four Poster Bed
• Circa: 1880
• Period: Victorian
• Provenance: Bombay region, India
• Wood: Teak
• Fits a standard UK double mattress
• Mattress size: 4ft 6” wide by 6ft 3” long
• Central barley twist posts panels
• Carved centre post panels
• Drop-down canopy
• Two-tier structure (superior quality)
• Floral pierced ovals panels to head & footboard
• Central carved urn to head & footboard
• Turned spindles to head & footboard
• Straight side rails
• Tapering shaped legs
• Block feet
• Dismantles for easy transportation and access
• Original polish & patination
• Rich dark red & brown colour
• Excellent original condition
• Muslin draping service available
• Luxury quality mattresses available
• Free delivery to England, Wales & southern Scotland*
• Free 14-day UK returns policy

Description:

This is a fine quality Anglo Indian bed, from the Victorian period, which fits a 4ft 6″ mattress, and incorporates four posts, with a Bombay Raj province, circa 1880, in excellent original condition.  The bed will fit a standard UK double mattress, measuring 4ft 6” wide x 6ft 3” long, if the slats are left at the original height. There would be s small gap of 2½ – 3” at the head and foot of the bed to allow space for tucking bedding and duvet covers in. The bed will however accommodate a mattress up to 6ft 7” long for those people who prefer more space (a custom mattress would be required for this size). If you choose to lower the slats (in order to see more detail in the headboard), a standard UK double sizes mattress (4ft 6” wide x 6ft 3” long) would fit this bed, although it would be very tight fit on the width.

The superstructure lends itself to being dressed with romantic fabric drapes. The four central barley twist posts hold the drop-down canopy in place, which in turn, are held in place by large threaded screws into the head and footboard. In between the turned posts on both the head and footboard is a panel which sports wavy open fretwork carving. The two-tier foot and headboard are mirrored in design featuring a carved beading surrounded by floral carvings, flanked by turned spindles and oval shaped fretwork panels either side. Below the main panels is a second tier consisting of turned spindles. The head and footboard corners are supported by four sturdy turned columns, which sit above four cabriole legs resting on claw and ball feet. The bed retains the original stunning colour and patination, having been sympathetically cleaned in our workshop by hand.

This bed would look stunning in either a contemporary or traditional setting. It dismantles for easy transportation and we can provide affordable good quality custom mattresses. This is a superior quality bed.

Provenance:

The style of these bed dates from 1840 until 1947 (until Indian Independence). The Anglo Indian beds were constructed for the British Raj, their families and the British Military in Colonial India. The beds were designed to collapse and be transported “flat pack” so could easily be moved whilst on military exercises and to their summerhouses in the hills. They were made when the Raj was at its height. The size, style and quality of the bed depict the status of the occupier or the military rank of the owner. They were made from the finest wood usually Mahogany, Teak or Sissoo wood (a member of the rose wood family).

Teak and sissoo wood were used extensively in the construction of these colonial four-poster beds because they had the advantage of only minimally expanding and contracting when exposed to extremes in temperature and humidity. They were resistant to woodworm, termites, and the occasional splash of seawater.

External Dimensions:

External Height = 218.4cm or 86” or 7ft 2”
External width = 152.6cm or 60” or 5ft
External length = 227.3cm or 89½” or 7ft 5½”

Headboard height (to rail) = 109.2cm or 43” or 3ft 7”
Footboard height (to rail) = 108.7cm or 42⅞” or 3ft 6⅞”

Height from floor to top of side rails = 54.7cm or 21½” or 1ft 9½”
Height from floor to bottom of side rails = 44.8cm or 17⅝” or 1ft 5⅞”
Side rail depth = 10cm or 4”

Mattress Dimensions (slats not lowered):

Length = 210.5cm or 82⅞” or 6ft 10⅞ max
Width (slats) = 136.5cm or 53¾” or 4ft 5¾ max
Width (including side rails) = 144.3cm or 56¾” or 4ft 8¾”max

Mattress Dimensions (slats lowered):

Length = 134.2cm or 52⅞ or 4ft 4⅞ max
Width = 210.5cm or 82⅞” or 6ft 10⅞ max

Condition Report:

This Anglo Indian bed is in excellent original condition. Some nominal old use marks to the leading edges and polish but nothing significant considering the age of the item. The headboard and footboard bed joints have been cleaned and glued to ensure the bed frame is solid in joint. The bed has been cleaned and French polished by hand in our workshop to a professional standard, therefore the colour and patination of the timber is of an excellent standard. The carvings are all intact, with no missing pieces or damage beyond the usual signs of age and use. The bed assembles together and all bolts and screws are in good condition. The bed is well constructed, solid in joint and ready to use.

Lowering the Slats:

The benefit of lowering the slats is that you get to see more of the headboard carvings even though you are using a modern 10″ – 12″ depth mattress. The original Victorian mattresses would have only been 2″ – 3″ deep. The slats are lowered by around 3″ in height. By lowering the slats, the width of the mattress will be reduced by 1″ in total.

It is advised that 1″ should be removed from the mattress width dimension, if the slats are to be lowered. Between 1″- 3″ (in total) should be removed from the above mattress length dimension to allow the mattress to comfortably fit on the bed between the headboard and footboard.

The mattress shown on the bed in the pictures is a standard UK king size mattress (5ft wide x 6ft 6″ long), which measures 5ft wide x 6ft 6″ long.

If you wanted to lower the slats, a standard UK king sizes mattress would fit, but there would be a small gap of 3” between the mattress and inside of the side rail either side of the mattress. However, this small gap could be filled with bedding and space to took duvet covers in.

Our custom mattresses start from £450. The actual dimensions of the custom mattress will depend on whether the slats are lowered or not.

Mattresses:

Because these Anglo Indian beds are individually unique and do not always conform to modern mattress dimensions, we also supply a range of customised luxury quality mattresses for these beds starting from £450. Our mattresses are constructed of natural materials (silk, wool & cashmere) and are hand made in the UK. The mattresses can have the corners removed so to maximise the mattress fit in the super-structure of bed. The price quoted does not include the mattress. Please enquire for a mattress quote.

Draping Service

We offer a separate draping service whereby we can dress the bed with any fabric of choice. This service can consist of the basic fabric being wrapped around the canopy, to hanging curtains or, providing a dressed solid roof with hung curtains. Apart from the superior style and presence, this four-poster bed had a practical purpose. The bed would have originally been decorated with a light muslin cotton material to prevent the mosquitos from biting the occupants in bed. The advertised price does not include drapes. Please contact us for a quote.

Ref. A269 / 59203