So what is it that really elevates the value of an antique iron bed? Above all else……… it’s “rarity”. The fewer times I’ve seen a bed means it was probably not a practical design to continue to produce. That’s even the case with manufacturers of reproductions today. Their main concern is the bottom line and…
I’m often asked why some style iron beds are more plentiful than others? Sounds like a simple enough question, and should have a rather uncomplicated answer………. not the case. There are a couple of things that can effect how prolific one particular style bed is. One of those things is the size of the foundry…
Few iron beds, I’ve had in the past 40 years, have ever gotten the response that this one did after being used in a photo shoot with Halle Berry in People Magazine. We had always referred to that bed as the “Peacock” bed because of the similar shape and style of a peacocks feathers and…
How is it that original old antique iron beds often have as many as a dozen or more layers of paint on them? In the early 1800’s iron beds came from the manufacturer with a good strong coating of lead base paint. As the bed went through normal use, after a few years, it would…
The beginning of a large iron and steel industry in the Chicago region during the nineteenth century was a function of entrepreneurial effort and a geographical advantage. Mills could obtain raw materials from the vast iron ore deposits in the Lake Superior region relatively cheaply and easily. Because most of the iron ore used by…
What are the pro’s and cons of using an interior designer ?The profession of Interior Design is relatively new, constantly evolving, and often confusing to the public. The best way to know if you should be using a interior designer for any of your decorating needs is first to ask yourself what will they be…
Over the years we have continued to sell more and more antique iron beds to our neighbors to the north, Canada. You’d think those sales would have increased because of word of mouth, or the ones we shipped having been seen by friends or family members. Although we’ve been very fortunate to have always turned…
Few antique iron beds you’ll ever come across will have such a unique corner casting and design. This bed has always been referred to as the “Shepherds Staff”, for obvious reasons. We came across this bed in the Chicago area where foundries were nearly as plentiful as those in the Pittsburgh Pa area, back in…
Up until recently most interior designers have used “reproduction” iron beds for all their bedroom design needs. Why? Rather simple answer….it was easier and “reproductions” offered todays larger sizes, that weren’t available back in the 1800’s. It was quite easy to go “on-line” and look up any number of companies that produced reproductions and…
It was the traditional bed for that period. Yes there were wooden headboards. But the majority of the population slept on iron beds. What made them so popular were a number of contributing factor’s. The first few were practical ones…….they elevated the person sleeping in the away from the drafts that were close to the…