Antique Iron Bed

Problematic Conversions……No Problem!!!!!

Problematic Conversions……No Problem!!!!!Why? Because the largest size iron bed being made back in the 1800’s was a double/full size. Back then there were no queen or king sizes. So to accommodate those individuals with either a queen or king size mattress, it’s necessary to have us convert it. The conversion process our beds go through…

Antique Iron Bed

Black Iron Finishes on Iron Beds

Actually a variation of Black. Regular Black can be a very dull lifeless color for anything, especially an iron bed or large piece of furniture.  Yet with a few simple “tweak’s”, an otherwise lifeless color can come to life and have a rich organic look to it. Here are the steps that go into our…

Antique Iron Bed

Crackle Finishes on Antique Iron Beds

One of the more popular custom antique faux’ finishes we do on our iron beds is the “Distressed Crackle” finish. It came about as a result of the response I continually got from my customers that would see old beds I’d get in, that had 150 to 200 years of paint that had crackle and…

Antique Iron Bed

Iron Bed Corner Finials A Foundries Signature

Nearly 50% or more of all iron beds made back in the 1800’s had corner castings or “finials”. These are the decorative castings on the top of the corner of the head and foot board. They are as diverse in their style as the beds they go on. So what can be determined from corner…

Antique Iron Bed

Metamorphisis of The Iron Bed

One of the more enjoyable things about being in the antique iron bed business over the past 40 years, is having been able to see countless beds be “re-born”, in the refinishing process, after a “storied” past of close to 200 years. It really is like the rebirth of an old piece of furniture that…

Antique Iron Bed

The Mystique of the Iron Bed

What comes to mind when you hear the word iron bed. It can be as varied as those from the same Rorschach ink blot. Some people, mostly men, believe iron beds are pure femininity…….there’s nothing masculine about them. Other people feel they embody the Victorian romantic era and still others feel they were purely beds…

Antique Iron Bed

Portrait Panel Beds

I’ve done numerous blogs in the past about “art display panel beds”. Many of them  were actually made by a foundry/manufacturer in Chicago called the “Art Bed Co.”  These particular beds had flat metal panels that served as canvases for different floral bouquet’s, pastoral scenes,  or even abstract Victorian designs. But there were a select few…

Antique Iron Bed

Finish Clean It & Seal It

Most all of the  beds I sell, our customers have me put on an authentic antique finish. Because all our beds are original old antique iron beds…..not reproductions, our customers want to make sure the finish reflects their age and authenticity  . That’s why we have so many old antique faux’ finishes in our repertoire.…

Antique Iron Bed

The Stages of Converting & Iron Bed

As most of you know…the largest size iron bed being made back in the 1800’s, was a double size. So when someone wants a larger size, and still wants to use an antique iron beds, it becomes necessary to convert that original double size in one of a couple  different ways. When converting your bed…

Antique Iron Bed

Same Beds Two Looks

Having been in the iron bed business for close to 40 years, I’ve seen most beds more than once. I have albums upon albums of different bed styles I’ve come across over that period. But it always amazes me when I get a bed in that I’ve had in the past that looks so uniquely…