17th Century Canopy Bed Carved

[Number13]

Thanks for all of the help here, all very much appreciated! I think I will contact that Marhamchurch Antiques and see what he might have to say about this piece.

I asked if it was a rope bed and she said no. I also managed to get a few more pics from here. Here they are:

[mart]

What does support the matress ??  From what can see of the nails and construction,, would help to see the construction under the mattress,,, It was made much later than what you were told !!  You really have to compare the tecnique used to build the bed to what was common at the time !!

[Number13]

You really have to compare the tecnique used to build the bed to what was common at the time !!

Good point... which is exactly what I had asked her about when she mentioned the fasteners and screws...

[greenacres]

Do you think it is Flemish like I saw? I read about 1646.

[KC]

Inquiring minds want to know! 

[jacon4]

Hmmmmm, well, now that we see close up of carving, it does not look like 17th century to me, the background is to smooth to be done by hand, ditto the carving itself. More likely this bed is a copy from the 19th century or later.

[mart]

That was my opinion as well Jacon4 !!  Perhaps nice copy of older style !!

[Ipcress]

Hmmmmm, well, now that we see close up of carving, it does not look like 17th century to me, the background is to smooth to be done by hand, ditto the carving itself. More likely this bed is a copy from the 19th century or later.

Indeed. Everything says late Victorian repro of an Elizabethan bed.

Still worth a few bob though   

[ghopper1924]

Now that we're seeing things more closely, there seems to be some aesthetic influence in the carving, and there is quartersawn oak in the canopy. I'm guessing 1880-1900.

Still,  it's a beauty with lots of attention to detail. A nice job and still possibly worth 10k or so.

[18thc.lady]

http://mbryner.fatcow.com/jimwuerstlin/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album44&id=E9_P7084807

This bed is 1646. Flemish $30,000.00

With all due respect I disagree with greenacres. I am an antique dealer. Hubby and I have furnished our home in all 17thc. antiques. I believe this bed is English, not Flemish, and I think the price of $30,000. is very inflated and unrealistic. We have a 17thc. DATED (1686) English tester bed and didn't pay even remotely close to that. Also, ours is a more desirable bed because it is of a smaller SCALE with more understated carving. Where this bed is more fitting for a huge estate, it would be hard to sell to most collectors furnishing their homes.
I have sold to Ralph Lauren in the past. (NOT this bed!)
Even if it was owned by him, that would not inflate the value of the bed. A collector isn't going to pay an exorbitant price just because he MAY have owned it.
www dot thecountryladyantiq ues dot com

[mariok54]

Hi 18thc.lady

Welcome to the forum and I'm glad you resurrected this post as I hadn't seen it. It's good to have someone else with expertise on board and I look forward to having my horizons widened.
I think Greenacres was possibly referring to the bed in her link, and not the bed posted by Number13.
What are your views on the age of it? There seems to be some question as to whether it's as old as it purports to be.
I agree with your comments that just being owned by ralh Lauren probably would not add any $$$ (unless you have a real poser who loves to name drop), but if ownership can be established then it all helps towards its provenance.

[mart]

This is a "vintage" post !!  Pretty much our conclusion as well !! Best I can remember anyway !!