Raised Panel Bed - French

Country

This Antique Chestnut raised panel bed was built for a customer in Virginia who had been looking for a bed to match a 18th century French Armoire.  Using design elements from the armoire, such as the crown molding and panel profiles, I was able to design this bed to harmonize with her existing piece.  Since the American Chestnut tree population was destroyed by a blight in the 1900's, the only source of this wood is through reclaimed barn timbers.  The wood used in the construction of this piece was from a barn built in the 1880's in Western Pennsylvania. The bed is constructed from solid chestnut in a very traditional manner with pinned mortise and tenon joinery, bed bolt to connect the rails to the head board and footboard, and bed irons to support the box spring.  The use of another wood, such as cherry or mahogany would significantly change the style of this piece - making it suitable for a more formal bedroom setting. The bed size, style, wood selection, and coloring can be customized to suit the customer's requirements.  

Features

• Antique Chestnut construction • Raised panel headboard and footboard. • Rails joined to headboard and footboard with traditional bed bolts - bolt covers are available in a wide variety of styles and finishes. • Bed bolt wrench included to allow periodic tightening of the joints as the humidity changes. • All joinery is pinned mortise and tenon. • The piece was stained to match an existing antique armoire. • This bed was finished with a hand rubbed shellac -  then buffed and waxed to a satiny sheen • The crown molding at the headboard is designed to match the style of an existing antique. • Other woods, styles and finishes are available - including pencil post, Sheraton and shaker.

Detail views of the pinned leg, raised panel, antique wood and the bed bolt covers.