Summary:
• Circa: 1880
• Period: Victorian
• Provenance: India
• Wood: Teak
• Maximum mattress opening: 5ft 4½” wide by 6ft 4⅛” long
• Luxury quality custom mattresses available
• Single tier structure
• Protruding moulded canopy
• Four elegant barley twist carved posts
• Moulded gothic arched headboard top rail
• Foliate pierced fretwork panel to centre of headboard
• Floral pierced fretwork carved panels & turned spindles to headboard
• Carved turned footboard top rail supported by turned spindles
• Blind fretwork moulded side rails & frame
• Stunning quality carvings
• Turned legs
• Dismantles for easy transportation and access
• Original polish & patination
• Rich dark red & brown colour
• Excellent original condition
• Muslin draping service available
• Free delivery to England, Wales & southern Scotland*
• Free 14-day UK returns policy
Description:
This is a fine quality antique 5ft 4” wide Victorian colonial Anglo-Indian Raj king size four-poster bed, circa 1880, in excellent original condition, boasting the original polish, originating from colonial India. The level of detail and craftmanship displayed in the materials, construction and carving of this bed is second to none.
This bed will fit a 5ft wide mattress if the slats are lowered (please see section “Lowering the Slats” below for further information).
The bed incorporates a triple carved floral panel gothic shaped headboard, interspersed by ring turned spindles, below a moulded headboard top rail which arches over a central foliate pierced fretwork panel. The bed incorporates elegant blind fretwork carved side rails & frame side rails and footboard rail. The footboard incorporates multiple ring-turned spindles below a horizontal moulded rail. Above the bed frame, four barley twist posts support a protruding moulded canopy. The bed terminates on substantial turned legs. This bed displays beautiful carvings throughout – even the bolt caps to the frame are carved into flower heads. The superstructure also lends itself to being dressed with romantic fabric drapes.
Retaining the original polish and patination, this colonial bed boasts a rich red-brown colour, with a satin French polish finish. The bed is constructed of teak and has a superior structure. This king size four poster bed would look stunning in either a contemporary or traditional setting. It dismantles for easy transportation and we can provide good quality custom mattresses. This is a superior quality centrepiece for any bedroom and is ideal for those who prefer a wider bed.
Provenance:
The style of these bed dates from 1840 until 1947 (until Indian Independence). The 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.
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 = 228.9cm or 90⅛” or 7ft 6⅛”
External length = 212.4cm or 83⅝” or 6ft 11⅝”
External width = 174.7cm or 68¾” or 5ft 8¾”
Headboard height = 129.6cm or 51” or 4ft 3”
Footboard height = 88cm or 34⅝” or 2ft 10⅝”
Height from floor to top of side rails = 61.2cm or 24” or 2ft
Side rail depth = 13cm or 5⅛”
Maximum Mattress Opening (slats not lowered):
Length = 193.2cm or 76⅛” or 6ft 4⅛”
Width (slats) = 155cm or 61” or 5ft 1”
Width (including side rails) = 164cm or 64½” or 5ft 4½”
Maximum Mattress Opening (slats lowered):
Length = 193.2cm or 76⅛” or 6ft 4⅛”
Width = 152.3cm or 60” or 5ft”
Condition Report:
This 5f 4” king size wide Victorian colonial Anglo-Indian Raj four-poster bed is in excellent original condition, which is commensurate with its age. 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 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. It is rare to find antique beds which will fit a modern 6ft super king mattress.
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.
By lowering the slats, the width of the mattress will be reduced by 1” in total. The slats are lowered by around 3” in height.
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 UK standard king size mattress, which measures 5ft wide x 6ft 6” long, but it is quite a tight fit on the length. You may be able to use a standard UK king size mattress but it depends on how much “give” there is in the mattress to enable it to fit into a 6ft 4” length.
It is therefore recommended that a custom size mattress be supplied, to ensure a comfortable fit. The custom size mattress should measure 5ft 4” wide by 6ft 2” long (if the slats are not lowered). If the slats were lowered, the custom size mattress would need to measure 5ft wide by 6ft 2” long. 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 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.
Terms & Conditions:
Before you purchase this item, please ensure you have read and are in agreement with our Terms & Conditions of Sale. If you have any questions regarding our Terms & Conditions of Sale, please contact us to discuss them, before purchasing this item.
Ref. 51926