Bed

Object Name:

Bed

Object ID:

1993.038.01

Place of Origin:

New Hampshire (probably)

Date:

1840-1850

Description:

Bed, with a New Boston, NH, history, 1840s. Maple and pine bed. Consists of a headboard assembly (A), foot end assembly (B), two side rails with rope (C-D), two feather mattresses (E-F) , bed skirt (G), and a wood bed key (H) (E-H stored separately). Side rails have end tabs which fit into slots in each corner post.
A. Headboard assembly: consists of two turned maple corner posts, an end rail, and a headboard. Headboard is a shaped pine plank, with a maple turning attached horizontally to the top. Pine plank has a serpentine top, flat bottom, and demi-lune cutouts on the sides; it has a maple-colored finish. The horizontal turning is vase and ring, with ball ends. The end rail is approx. 3" square in section (wood unidentified), with five bored holes to hold ropes. Corner posts have a square mid-section where joined with rails, spool, vase, inverted cup, ring and ball-top turnings above, and ring and inverted vase turnings below. Overall width of headboard assembly is 55", and height 46".
B. Foot end assembly: consists of two turned maple corner posts (identical to those in the headboard assembly), connected by an end rail (identical to that in the headboard assembly).
C. Side rail, with rope. ~3" square in section, rail has tab ends, which are marked with engraved roman numerals: "VII" and "VIII". Eight drilled holes spread throughout rail. Seven tacks with remnants of muslin under tacks. Rail is 76" long, including 4.5" of joining projections.
D. Side rail. Identical to above, except that ends marked "III" and "IIII". Rope strung through three holes, wood peg in one hole.
E. Mattress. Blue striped cotton ticking, stuffed with feathers. 80" long, 60" wide (center seam, lengthwise). Discarded 06/27/2006.
F. Mattress. Identical to above, except narrower. 80" long, 58" wide. Discarded 06/27/2006.
G. Bed skirt. Ruffled, off-white muslin skirt. Starched. Small circular rust stains along top band, few tears. 16'8" long (along top band). 22" high.
H. Bed key. Made from two pieces of wood, hand hewn. T-shape, with notch cut into base. Remnants of white paint on body reads, "BED KEY". 14.5" long, 13.75" wide, 2.5" deep.

Material:

Wood
Textile
Maple
Pine

Dimensions:

H-46 W-55 L-79.5 inches

Provenance:

Was in donor's great-grandparents and grandparents house (Andrews-Skofield homestead) in New Boston, NH.

Credit Line:

Gift of Frances L. Skofield

People:

Skofield, Samuel Thomas, Skofield, Mary