826-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 1,2003
o
THE ANTIQUE
DETECTIVE
Anne Gilbert
Beds One Of The
Earliest Status Symbols
These days we take our beds
for granted. Just about everybody
has one whether plain or fancy.
Would you believe beds were
once a symbol of wealth and
power? And, early examples
weren’t often very comfortable.
Not even for Persian potentates.
One of pair, Sheraton style, carved pineapple post
beds. Sold at auction for $1,092.50. Photo credit: James
Julia auctions, Fairfield, Maine.
“O” GAUGE Wm
CELEBRATION
TWO COLLECTIONS
TWO AUCTIONS
BOTH COMMENCING PROMPTLY AT
10 A.M. SAT., MARCH 8, 2003
RIDGE FIRE COMPANY
ALONG RT. 23, BETWEEN
PHOENIXVILLE, PA & RT. 100
EXHIBITION: 7-9 FRIDAY EVENING
& 8-10 AUCTION DAY
In The Pavilion, An impressive array of brass “O” scale locomotives &
cars from the Arnone collection, Oakhill, VA, along with desirable
pre- and post-war Lionel equipment. Other makers also. We believe you’ll
like the quality.
In The Blue Room, we’ll have a collection of very clean, like new,
mostly boxed modem era trains from various manufacturers. Forget
collecting; Let’s buy this stuff and ran it!
10% Buyer’s Premium Will Be Applied.
TED MAURER, AU-000593-L
KATHY MAURER, AU-003006-L
SUCCESSFUL AUCTION MANAGEMENT
1003 BROOKWOOD DRIVE, POTTSTOWN, PA 19464
PHONES: 610-323-1573 OR 610-367-5024
FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS AT 610-495-5504
WWW.MAURERAIL.COM
By the 18th and 19th centuries
the bed had come a long way.
Not only for comfort but design.
When they come to auction they
can be pricey. What counts now
are design, age and maker. An
elaborate Victorian four poster
bed can sell at auction for more
than $5,000.
Even a 20th century reproduc
tion can do well. This happened
when a pair of twin size, Shera
ton style carved pineapple post
beds fetched $1,092.50 at a Janu
ary, James Julia auction.
Ancient drawings show that
beds in Egypt, Persia, Greece and
Rome were simple structures of
stone, softened with animal skins
and textiles. However, they were
lavished with inlays or appliques
of metals and ivory.
In Greece and Rome the bed
frames were high. For the
wealthy and royalty, headboards
were inlaid with gold, silver and
bronze.
Not so lucky were the North
ern Europeans during those
times. Their beds were piles of
leaves on the floor, covered with
skins. By the middle ages the
mattress was invented. It was
stuffed with feathers, wool or
hair. The bed was on it’s way to
becoming an object of impor
tance.
Bedsteads have always fol
lowed the prevailing taste of their
time.
Before the reign of Queen
Anne in England, some
stood as high as 11 feet,
along with massive court
cupboards. There was a
practical reason as well as
aesthetic for the heavily,
velvet draped, cornice-can
opy. Drapery kept out the
cold air.
In France at the same
time, huge bed frames were
engulfed in costly fabrics.
Even though beds became
lighter and simpler by the
the 18th century, it was
their designers who made
them important. In Eng
land, costly were beds
made by noted designers
Chippendale, Hepplewhite,
Adams, and Sharaton.
American headboard styles
began radical changes in the
1860 s evolving from the four
poster and baluster styles. During
the era of the rococco revival
headboards became higher and
were often covered with a partial
wood canopy frame and drapery.
By the 1880s-1890s, the canopy
frame had disappeared and the
headboard was even higher, tow
ering and heavy in appearance.
Among the woods favored was
golden oak. Decorations were ap
plied or carved in the more ex
pensive pieces. They were often
part of a bedroom suite.
By the end of the 19th century
into the early 20th, the swirling
lines of the Art Nouveau style
dictated the look. It was followed
by the stark, sparse lines of Arts
and Crafts style.
A radical change in both the
appearance and materials came
with the introduction of the Art
Deco style to America in the
19205. Headboards became low.
The favored materials were wal
nut and oak. The more expensive
beds (and bedroom suites) were
=AUCTION=
Over 200 Antique & Collectible Firearms
Other Pertinent Miscellany
At the Maryland State Fairgrounds
Vista Room (next to the Exhibition Hall)
York Road, Timonium, MD 21093
Thursday, March 13, 2003 at s:oopm
Exhibition: 1- spm on day of sale * Catalogue Available Week of March 3 rd
Directions: Take 1-695 to exit 26, MD Rl 45 north (York Road). Follow
approximately 2 miles to north entrance on the left.
St. Etienne Veyron fils Cadet punt gun
HIGHLIGHTS
HANDGUNS: COLT - 3rd model Dragoon, cut tor stock; original 3rd
model Dragoon stock; model 1860 Army, vine type factory engraving, orig
inal carved ivory grips with Mexican eagle & snake; Ist model 1851 Navy;
model 1849 London Pocket, Root model; Standard; model 1908; model
1911; Mark IV; 3 Third Generation SAA; New Frontier Buntline, Python,
Buntline Special, 3rd model derringers, REMINGTON - New Model,
model 1861 Navy; S&W - 1-1/2, factory engraved by Nemschke, K3B, 60;
29-2, 645; Manhattan Series I & Series II Navy; Pettengill Army; U.S.
Model 1836 Johnson; U.S. Navy Model 1842 Ames; Starr Arms Double
Action Army, Pepperboxes - Allen & Thurber, Allen & Wheelock, Blunt &
Symms, Spanish caI.44RF, Cooper, Rare American ca 1.40 dueling; English
duck foot flintlock; Austrian Model 1859, Forehand & Wadsworth; Rogers
& Spencer; National Arms Co.: Enfield double action Mark 11, British
Trantor style; Freeman, Pond, Belgian ca 1.31 pmfire, Cheltenham
“Hillebrandt patent”; DWM Luger 1916, Ruger Blackhawks, Walther-P3B;
PPK; H&K SPB9; etc.
LONGGUNS: St. Etienne Veyron fils Cadet punt gun, 57” barrel over 1”
bore; WINCHESTER - model 1866 carbine and musket; model 1873;
model 1892, model 1894, model 1906, fine pre-’64 model 70\ m 22 Hoi net
carbine, 220 Swift Varmint, 250-3000, 257 Roberts, 300 Savage, 300 Mag
carbine, 308 Wm. 7.65 mm, 9mm, model 94’s, 3 Spencer rifles. 3 Sharps
model 1859, 2 Burnside ntles, other Civil War examples by US
Springfield 1837. 1864. Joslyn 1864, Trenton; Tower; Wickham 1816
conv. Maynard; Whitney 1841, Robbins & Lawrence 1841. Gallager
Forager, Remington lolling blocks, US Springfield model 1873. Bullard
1886, Sturm, Ruger models 1-S 300H&H, l-A7mm-08, M 77 Mauser;
Mini-14, Browning BAR, model 53, Invector, Colt AR-15 and Target
Match model #6700; SHOTGUNS- Beietta, Biownmg, Ithaca, Mossberg,
Remington, Stevens, Winchester, etc
MISCELLANY: tine Henry cartridge box, B KITTREDGE&Co.CIN.O.,
all copper flashing, onginal lining, US powder horn, ornately carved with
Amencan flag. Federal eagle, figures, animals, vegetation, geometric bordei
decoiation, 1848; Indian Relics; Bowie kmtes, Civil War swords, bayonets,
accessories; WWII clothing and accessories, thousands of lounds of ammo!
Liberty Washington premium model 40cu It. gun sate, forest green metallic
exterior with fitted interior; Gun shop sign, circa 1950; Iver Johnson Arms
& Cycle Works bicycle; etc., etc.
For a complete listing and images visit our website:
www.oneillauctions.com
Terms: Cash, guaranteed check, Visa Master Card. 13% buyer’s commis
sion. 5% sales tax, 3% discount to cash or check buyers All sales are final.
All items are sold in “as is” condition. Immediate removal. All weapons
made after 1898 will require buyer registration at time ot purchase. The reg
istration process will be performed on the premises and a fee will be charged
unless you possess a valid PEL. Maryland residents cannot purchase the
H&K SPB9 unless they possess an PEL.
O’NEILLS AUCTION COMPANY
M \T ■ PO. Box 394 • Forest Hill, MD 21050
llljf 410-838-6980 • 1-888-663-4557
www.oneillauctions.com
combined wood with aluminum,
ivory, black lacquer, ebony and
chrome.
The 19405-1950 s Modernism
movement brought yet more
changes to the bed. Molded ply
wood and plastics gave it a differ
ent look. It was also the time
when the platform bed was intro
duced. Sculptured acrylics were
often combined with exotic
woods.
CLUES: If you want to know
what the next “hot” bed fashion
will be, pay attention to the ex
pensive furniture ads. A few
years ago there was a revival of
the 19th century Empire “sleigh”
bed. Copies and reproductions
were popular for five years.
While most of the early styles
have been reproduced, a possible
exception could be the late Victo
rian massive headboards. How
ever, with all of the carved furni
ture repros coming here from
Indonesia I could be wrong. Look
for circular saw marks that
would be on authentic late 19th
century pieces, and signs of wear.
Otherwise be happy with a finely
carved reproduction.
*5