Bed

Object Name:

Bed

Object ID:

2004.025

Creator:

Merriam, Hall & CompanyManufacturer

Place of Origin:

North Leominster, MA

Date:

circa 1840

Description:

Bed, Empire style, with history of belonging to John Parker Hale. Mahogany primary wood, with cherry, pine, and oak secondary woods. Originally a rope bed, the ropes going through eyelets in canvas that was nailed to the frame. Later it was converted to slats that rested on top of side rails. Includes headboard, footboard, two side rails, and five slats. The headboard (A) and footboard (B) legs have a series of turnings and carvings, from top to bottom: pineapple finial, ring turnings, acanthus leaves, ring and vase turning, then a square block where rails fit together and below that more ring and vase turning and a tapered foot. The square portion is 4.25" by 4.25". The headboard and footboard have a horizontal slab of mahogany (with semi-circular cutouts at ends), with a horizontal column on top of the slab, and pineapples at each end of the column. Headboard and footboard are identical, except that the headboard is slightly taller. Both boards have a number "11" impressed at the bottom center of the mahogany slab. The headboard has repairs on one end.
One side rail (D) has a strip of canvas 64.50" nailed on with 12 eyelets holes. It has "IIII" impressed on one end, "ll" in the center, and "lll" at the other end. The other side rail (C) has the exact dimensions. Canvas strip attached the same way. Carvings at one end is a "X", in the middle "ll", and the other end "VII". Four of the five slats (E-G & I) are pine and 53.9" in length. The remaining slat (H) is not pine, but oak with insect damage, and has the same dimensions. One slat (E) has a printed paper label, "From / MERRIAM, HALL & CO., / Furniture Manufacturers, NORTH LEOMINSTER, MASS." with stamped lettering above, "_L. BO_ _ON / HENNIKER N.H."
A. Headboard, mahogany - width 57.25", height 49.4"
B. Footboard, mahogany - width 57.25", height 49.25"
C. Side rail, cherry - length with nails 77", length without nails 72"
D. Side rail, cherry - length with nails 77", length without nails 72"
E-I. Five wooden slats - length 53.9"

Material:

Wood

Dimensions:

H-49.375 W-57.25 L-79 inches

Provenance:

Originally owned by John Parker Hale of Dover, NH. Bequest of John P. H. Chandler, Jr., great-grandson of John Parker Hale. Said by donor to have been acquired by Hale in Spain (1865-69), while he was U.S. Ambassador to Spain. However, the bed was likely made c. 1840.

Credit Line:

Bequest of John P. H. Chandler, Jr.

People:

Hale, John Parker (1806-1873), Chandler, John P. H., Jr. (1911-2001)