The
History of Beds Written
by Phil Pendleton
©Copyright 2007-2009
The history of beds is an interesting study of the
beds used by our ancient and modern ancestors dating
back thousands of years across a multitude of continents
and cultures. Archeologists, Anthropologists and Historians
have studied and well documented these findings from
tablets, writings, historical artwork and paintings.
These discoveries also included the beds themselves
that have been preserved over the centuries in museums
and private collections. This history presents us
with a look into how beds have evolved over the centuries,
the changes in designs and materials used and how
these beds have influenced bed construction through
the ages. |
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A
grass-filled pit from the Early Neolithic
Age believed to have been a child-size sleeping
bed discovered in Hinds Cave in 1975. Image
courtesy of Prehistoric Texas |
Beds
from the Early Neolithic Age: 7000 B.C. -6000
B.C.
Much of what we know about this period comes from
primitive human drawings found on cave walls or from
archeological digs. In the mid-1970's, a research
team from Texas A&M led by professors Harry J.
Shafer and Vaughn M. Bryant carefully excavated Hinds
Cave located in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands in southwestern
Texas. There they discovered a treasure trove of artifacts
dating back over 9,000 years left there by the nomadic
hunter-gatherers that moved through the area.[1]
The discovery was that of grass-lined beds that the
site's occupants once curled up in to sleep. Pits
were created in the soft sediment and this grass was
lined into the pits offering some comfort to its occupant.
The size of many of these pits suggested that the
occupant would sleep in the fetal position.[2]
|
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Late Neolithic Age home featuring a stone
dresser and two stone beds in the Skara Brae
prehistoric village located in Orkney Scotland
UK. Image courtesy of Prehistoric UK |
Beds
from the Late Neolithic Age: 5000 B.C. - 4000 B.C.
Several unearthed sites by archeologists from this
period give us a much better understanding of beds,
bedroom furniture and life in the Late Neolithic Age.
One of the most well preserved of these sites is located
in Orkney Scotland, UK, An island located at the northern
most part of Scotland. The settlement known as Skara
Brae was protected by dunes until its discovery. In
1850 heavy storms washed away part of the dunes to
reveal the best preserved prehistoric village in Northern
Europe.[3]
The people of this period primarily used stone in
their furnishings and this can be seen in the image
to the right. It shows a stone dresser which would
have held tools or other important possessions. Surrounding
this dresser to the left and right are ancient beds.
These were huge slabs of stone that would most likely
have been topped with bracken (a large fern) and covered
with animal skins for warmth and comfort.[4]
Perhaps these could be considered early platform beds
due in part to their box shape. |
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Bronze
Age Egyptian wood bed featuring gold sheaths
and a platform consisting of woven mats. Animal
shaped legs accented many Egyptian bed styles
in this era. Image courtesy of Eternal Egypt |
Beds
from the Bronze Age: 3000 B.C. - 1000 B.C.
The Bronze Age brought about many changes to how
beds would be made in the centuries that followed.
Most notably were the designs that craftsman and woodworkers
in ancient Egypt began using. Simple beds were made
for the common people while the most elaborate of
designs and materials were used in the construction
of beds for the wealthy and for the Egyptian Pharaohs.
Much of what we know about Egyptian beds we have learned
from both hieroglyphs as well as the wood furniture
itself found in the tombs of the pharaohs. The most
ornate of these wooden beds were created with elaborate
gold sheaths covering the outside of the bed.[5]
Woven mats were placed on the wood framework creating
a platform for the mattress and beneath this animal
shaped legs accented the lower half of these beds.
Mattresses were constructed of wooden slats with plaited
(a type of stitch) strings or reeds which would hold
wool cushions or other types of soft material. Egyptian
used sheets made of linen.[6] |
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Etruscan
metal bed frame. Platform consisted of metal
weaved together. A feather or straw mattress
would have been used on top. Image courtesy
of the Vatican Museum |
Beds
from the Iron Age: 1000 B.C. - 476 A.D.
The Iron Age was an important and gradual transition
from the Bronze age for many cultures throughout the
world as people began to figure out how to make furniture,
tools and weapons from Iron. The reason this was significant
is that the discovery of iron's melting point being
higher than that of bronze meant that steel alloy
consisting of mostly iron could be developed which
was far superior to that of bronze.[7]
People could now build a better bed. The Roman civilization
until its fall around 476 A.D. produced many
advances including how beds were to be designed. Wealthier
Roman and European beds from this era consisted of
several supports beneath a platform consisting of
an outer metal frame and metal weaved in a cross pattern
across the platform to provide support for the mattress.
Most of the mattresses used on these beds consisted
of a filling with feathers or straw. Wool blankets
would have been used with these beds.[8]
However less fortunate Europeans in this era would
have had to be content with mats on the floor filled
with bugs.[9] |
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St.
James appears to King Charlemagne in a dream.
Notice the ornate styling of his bed in
this painting. Image courtesy of Saint-Jacques |
Beds
during the Middle Ages: 476 A.D. - 1200 A.D.
After the fall of Rome was the period of the Middle
Ages (or Dark Ages as it is also commonly referred
to). A turbulent and violent time in which great
struggles and hardships befell the people of Europe
and abroad. Popular Frankish furniture of nobles
in the era of Kings like Charlemagne would typically
have been styled with bed posts and draped fabric
coverings.[10]
This style continued to evolve and grow in popularity
well into the end of the Renaissance period. This
period also gave rise to Medieval designs that featured
heavier construction and appearance in beds that
would have been found in Saxon and Anglian designs
|
10th
Century Norwegian Bed made of Beech. Taken
from a Gokstad ship. Platform of the bed consisted
of wood slats. Straw or hay stuffed into a
sack made up this Viking mattress. Image courtesy
of House Greydragon |
In Scandinavia during this period, Norwegian Vikings
were building wood slatted platform style beds for
use in their ships. These wood beds were more basic
in design from much of the rest of the world but show
us a people who began integrating slat construction
into their design. The 10th century bed shown to the
left shows these slats actually fitted into and through
the side railings of the bed. The two side rails are
designed to fit through the bed post legs in order
to secure them.[11]
This construction allowed the Norwegian Vikings great
flexibility in getting them into their ships for the
voyages ahead. |
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16th
Century Rope Bed. Pegs made up much of the
corner joinery. Craftsmen pulled ropes through
holes throughout the base of the bed to form
the central platform of the bed. Images courtesy
of the Saffron Walden Museum |
Beds
during the Renaissance: 1300 A.D. - 1600 A.D.
Beginning in Italy, the Renaissance was a cultural
movement later spreading across Europe. The artistic
aspect is probably the most noted achievement during
this period but advances in the revival of learning
and advancements in science also began to flourish.
Renaissance furniture from this period almost always
included a canopy and posts in the design. Many designs
for these beds from the 16th & 17th centuries
used ropes to make up the central platform of the
bed. Holes were made through the side rails and the
footboard and headboard of these beds. The craftsmen
would then pull the ropes through these holes in a
pattern much like the bed shown to the left.[12]
Hence what led to the expression "sleep tight"
as these ropes required regular maintenance and tightening. |
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17th
Century Glouchester Oak Tester Rope Bed. Image
courtesy of Christies's |
The
bed featured to the right is a 17th Century Glouchester
Oak Tester Rope Bed. (Tester refers to top portion
of the bed canopy as being solid.) [13]
The detail and craftsmanship of 17th Century woodworkers
can be seen in the hand carved detail in and around
the bed. What made these canopy beds so popular to
the people in this period is that homes had few rooms
and drapes could be placed on/around the bed to give
it seclusion from the home around it and provided
some level of privacy to sleeping. This bed of course
also features holes for the rope platform used throughout
beds or this era. Joined frame and paneled beds became
the inspiration to many furniture makers in the centuries
that followed as this style flourished in these eras. |
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18th
Century American walnut colonial bed featuring
bed hangings and textiles. Image courtesy
of St. Louis Art Museum |
Beds
during the Late Colonial Era: 1700 A.D. - 1799 A.D.
During
this period colonial powers such as England, France
& Spain continued to assert their influence across
the world. This influence could also be seen in the
furnishings of this period as being very European
and continued to borrow from the advances in construction
and design from the Renaissance period. However new
designs and ideas began emerging in this era and saw
the introduction of many new construction techniques.[14]
The image to the left depicts an early 18th Century
American bed. With the advancements in sawing led
to an increase in the use of Walnut in beds in this
period as well. This offered an alternative form of
decoration and helped see a decrease in carved surfaces
that were so prominent in bed designs in the centuries
proceeding.[15]
Beds and bedroom furnishings of this era were often
adorned with extensive textiles such as bedding, curtains,
bed hangings & drapes. Typically in 18th Century
households, the most valuable piece of furniture in
the home was the bed and so it was decorated in the
most ornate and stylish way. |
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19th
Century mahogany bed. Inlaid with line and
figures of brass, mother of pearl, copper
and pewter.
Image courtesy of Ragoarts |
Beds
during the Industrial Revolution: 1800 A.D - 1899
A.D
During this period in furniture, radical changes in
society brought about by changing styles of government,
increased working populations across the world and
the rise of a new classes of wealth gave way to the
beginnings of mass production. Traditional ornate
and hand carved bed designs were gone. They were replaced
by simple flowing lines. Styles became less ornamental
like in centuries past and were now more elegant in
appearance. Mahogany and Satinwood became the dominant
species of wood used during this period. Mass
production of parts made bed manufacturing simple
and cheap and eventually led to manufacturers putting
out revival or reproduction beds grafted with historically
correct ornaments.[16]
(Renaissance,
Greek, Egyptian, Ect.) Individual craftsmen and designers
were unable to compete with these imitated styles
being cheaply made and put into the market to these
newly wealthy but uninformed furniture buyers and
often found themselves eventually working with these
manufacturers out of a need to stay employed. |
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1970's
Hardside Waterbed frame. MDF particle board
pedestal. Platform consisted of criss cross
supports and panels over the top.
Image courtesy of waterbed fads |
The
Modern Waterbed 1883 A.D. to Present:
There has been much debate as to when the first waterbed
was created and used. Many attribute the Persians
as being the first to try the use of enclosing liquid
for sleeping on. History tells us though that in 1883
the first waterbed patent was issued to Dr. William
Hooper of Portsmouth, England. His bed was devised
as an attempt to relieve bed sores that his patients
were suffering from.[17]
However this early attempt at a waterbed was unsuccessful
as Dr. Hooper could not control the temperature of
the water and patients found his bed to be cold and
clammy.
In 1968 Charles Hall created the modern waterbed design
with help from fellow SFSU students Paul Heckel and
Evan Fawkes. Originally they were trying to build
an innovative chair out of vinyl bag with 300 pounds
of cornstarch. The next attempt was to fill it with
Jell-O but this too was unsuccessful. The three abandoned
the chair concept and settled on perfecting the concept
into a bed and created the waterbed and it's accessories
like a heater, patches and repair kits.[18]
Typical waterbed construction consists of a MDF particle
board pedestal. Inside the pedestal are cross shaped
supports. Around the pedestal a raised outer framework
is installed. Modern waterbeds use a heater with a
thermostat to control the temperature of the water.
Panels are installed over the cross shaped supports
in the platform of the bed. A liner is placed inside
the bed and the vinyl waterbed mattress is inserted
into the frame and filled with water. Waterbed
popularity soared in the 70's but even though they
are now considered a fad, they are still sold throughout
the world even today from a variety of vendors. |
| |
A
Murphy Bed created by William L. Murphy out
of a need to free up space in his 1-room apartment
so as to entertain his guests..
Image courtesy Murphy Bed Co. Inc. |
The
Murphy Bed: 1900 A.D. - Present
William
L. Murphy was an American designer of a folding bed
that has come to be called a "Murphy Bed"
which are still sold today. This unique invention
consisted of a folding bed featuring a steel platform
which accommodated a single mattress. (Twin, Full
or Queen size depending on the model.) The idea behind
this bed came to Mr. Murphy as he resided in a one
room apartment in San Francisco and his existing bed
took up too much space when he tried to entertain
guests. He experimented with folding a bed up and
applied for his first patent in 1900. These humble
beginnings eventually led to the forming of the "Murphy
Wall Bed Company" that still exists today and
is managed by his grandson Clark W. Murphy who is
the current President of of the company.[19]
Although the Murphy Beds popularity peaked in the
1920's & 1930's, they are still popular today. |
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Modern
Platform Bed bedroom set constructed from
beech wood and shown in maple and white finishes.
Image courtesy of PlatformBeds.com |
Present
or Modern Day Beds:
Many
more choices are available to today's consumers in
the way of beds and mattresses than in any other era
of history. Current trends in furniture change every
year as new and exciting models continue to be introduced
by some of the leading manufacturers in the industry.
Much of today's beds and platform beds are offered
in traditional, transitional and contemporary styles
in a wide variety of ever changing designs. New colors
are also being made available in beds and furniture
as manufacturers develop new techniques of applying
more vibrant and unique colors and stains to both
wood, metal and other newer materials. With the advances
in bed construction and design this period in history
is sure to be remembered in its own right as actively
working to offer people the styles and choices they
want in an era that continues to move forward. |
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The
history of beds presented here has given us an idea
of how beds have evolved over the centuries. Many
of the bed styles and designs in our present era
can be traced back to these advances and influences
that our ancient and modern ancestors achieved during
their periods in history. Modern day beds represent
the cumulative efforts of so many individuals over
the last 9000 years and gives us a broader appreciation
of how far mankind has come in their attempts to
provide us all with a better bed for which to sleep.
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Footnotes:
|
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1. ^
Harry J. Shafer, Hinds Cave: A Prehistoric Treasure.
Available[Online]: <http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/hinds/index.html>
[9 August 2007].
|
| |
| 2.
^ Harry
J. Shafer, Hinds Cave Artifacts. Available[Online]:
<http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/hinds/artifacts.html>.
[9 August 2007]. |
| |
| 3.
^
Skara Brae Prehistoric Settlement. Available[Online]:
<http://prehistoric.org.uk/orkney/skara_brae.html>.
[9 August 2007]. |
| |
| 4.
^
Skara Brae - The Furniture. Available[Online]:
<http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/skarabrae/furniture.htm>.
[9 August 2007]. |
| |
| 5.
^
Eternal Egypt: Bed Covered with Gold Sheet.
Available[Online]: <http://www.eternalegypt.org>.
[9 August 2007]. |
| |
| 6.
^
Ilene Springer, Welcome to the Ancient Egyptian
Home. Available[Online]: <http://www.touregypt.net/magazine/mag10012000/magf1.htm>.
[9 August 2007]. |
| |
| 7.
^
Joseph Spoerl, A Brief History of Iron and Steel
Production. Available[Online]: <http://www.anselm.edu/homepage/dbanach/h-carnegie-steel.htm>.
[9 August 2007]. |
| |
| 8.
^
Karen Carr, Ancient Rome - Roman People. Available[Online]:
<http://historyforkids.org/learn/romans>. [10 August
2007]. |
| |
| 9.
^
Roman Furniture. Available[Online]: <http://www.hadrians.com/rome/romans/homes/roman_furniture.html>.
[10 August 2007]. |
| |
| 10.
^
Medieval Furniture, Home Decor Styles in Medieval
Times. Available[Online]: <http://www.furniturestyles.net/medieval/>.
[10 August 2007]. |
| |
| 11.
^
Charles Oakley, 10th Century Norwegian Bed.
Available[Online]: <http://www.medievalwood.org/charles/>.
[10 August 2007]. |
| |
| 12.
^
Saffron Walden Museum- Saffron Waldon. Available[Online]:
<http://www.ukattraction.com/east-of-england/saffron-walden-museum.htm>.[11
August 2007]. |
| |
| 13.
^
Stanley Reed, If This Furniture Could Talk. Available[Online]:
<http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_10/b3974121.htm>.
[12 August 2007]. |
| |
| 14.
^
Graham Blackburn, A Short History of Furniture
Periods. Available[Online]: <http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignAllAbout.aspx?id=3034>
[12 August 2007]. |
| |
| 15.
^
Graham Blackburn, A Short History of Furniture
Periods. Available[Online]: <http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignAllAbout.aspx?id=3034>
[12 August 2007]. |
| |
| 16.
^
Graham Blackburn, A Short History of Furniture
Periods. Available[Online]: <http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignAllAbout.aspx?id=3034>
[12 August 2007]. |
| |
| 17.
^
Faqs English - Who Invented the Waterbed? Available[Online]:
<http://www.tti.be/english/fs-e-faq.html>.
[10 August 2007]. |
| |
| 18.
^
Waterbeds - The Bad Fads Museum. Available[Online]:
<http://www.badfads.com/pages/activities/waterbed.html>.
[12 August 2007]. |
| |
| 19.
^
Murphy Bed Company - The History of the Murphy Bed.
Available[Online]: <http://www.murphybedcompany.com/home.php>.
[12 August 2007]. |
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Bibliography:
|
Barclay,
Peter C. House Greydragon. 24 October 2006. 10 August 2007
<http://www.greydragon.org>. |
| |
Blackburn,
Graham. A Short History of Furniture Periods.
12 August 2007
<http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignAllAbout.aspx?id=3034>. |
|
Carr,
Karen. Ancient Rome - Roman People.
10 August 2007
<http://historyforkids.org/learn/romans>. |
|
Dedicated
Partnership Promoting Tourism.
Saffron Walden Museum
- Saffron Walden. 11 August 2007
<http://www.ukattraction.com/east-of-england/saffron-walden-museum.htm>. |
|
Early
American Decorative Arts from St.
Louis Collections.
2000. 11 August 2007
<http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/1aa/1aa268.htm>. |
|
Eternal
Egypt. 2005. 9 August 2007
<http://www.eternalegypt.org>. |
| |
Faqs
English. Who Invented the Waterbed? 10 August
2007
<http://www.tti.be/english/fs-e-faq.html>. |
|
Furniture
- Encylopedia Of
Antiques.
2 December 1994. 10 August 2007
<http://www.oldandsold.com/articles02/furniture-b.shtml>. |
|
| Gathercole, Patricia M. The Depiction of
Architecture and Furniture in Medieval French.
Berkeley: Edwin Mellen
Press, 2006. |
|
| Litchfield,
Frederick. Illustrated History of Furniture: From
the Earliest to the Present Time. English: El Paso Norte Press, 2006. |
| |
Medieval
Furniture, Home Decor Styles in Medieval Times
10 August 2007
<http://www.furniturestyles.net/medieval/>.
|
|
Murphy
Bed Company - The History of Murphy Bed.
2004. 12 August 2007
<http://www.murphybedcompany.com/home.php>. |
|
Oakley,
Charles. 10th Century Norwegian Bed. 2000.
10 August 2007
<http://www.medievalwood.org/charles/>. |
|
Post,
Anne. 18th Century Trade Secrets Relative to Metals.
2006. 11 August 2006
<http://www.old-crafts.com/metals/secrets_relative_to_metals.htm>. |
|
Rago Arts and Auction Center. 10 August 2007
<http://www.ragoarts.com>. |
|
| Reed,
Stanley. If This Furniture Could
Talk. 17th Century
English Oak. 6 March 2006. 12 August 2007
<http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_10/b3974121.htm>. |
| |
Roman
Furniture. 2001. 10 August 2007
<http://www.hadrians.com/rome/romans/homes/roman_furniture.html>. |
| |
Ross,
David. Neolithic Britain.
9 August 2007
<http://www.britainexpress.com/History/The_Neolithic_Era.html>. |
| |
Shafer,
Harry J. Hinds Cave:
A Perishable Scientific Treasure. 30 July 2005.
9 August 2007
<http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net>. |
| |
Skara Brae - Prehistoric Settlement. 1 August 2007. 9 August 2007
<http://prehistoric.org.uk/orkney/skara_brae.html>. |
| |
Skara Brae - The Furniture. 1999. 9 August 2007
<http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/skarabrae/furniture.htm>. |
| |
Spoerl,
Joseph A Brief History of Iron and Steel Production.
9 August 2007
<http://www.anselm.edu/homepage/dbanach/h-carnegie-steel.htm>. |
| |
Springer,
Ilene Welcome to the Ancient Egyptian Home.
2003. 9 August 2007
<http://www.touregypt.net/magazine/mag10012000/magf1.htm>. |
| |
Waterbeds
- The Bad Fads
Museum. 22 September 2000. 12 August 2007
<http://www.badfads.com/pages/activities/waterbed.html>. |
| |
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Notes
from the Author:
The author has made every effort to attribute citations
or credit to the works or materials of the individuals
or websites from which this material was cited or
referenced from including but not limited to web pages,
books, images, text, etc. Any and all intellectual
property rights or copyright remain the exclusive
property of the author of said material that were
cited and used in the creation of this research document.
If you are the author of this material and believe
it is being used inappropriately, please contact the
author
so that the situation can be addressed. This research
document is copyright the property of the author and
may not be reproduced in any form. Used with permission
for PlatformBeds.com © Copyright
Phil Pendleton 2007-2009 |
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