Rare English Highly Carved Oak Tester Bed, 19th c., tester with molded cornice above frieze carved with masks and foliage, paneled canopy with acanthus and mask carved spires, headboard carved with niches flanked by various figural carvings, central figural reserve above incised "1899", highly ornamented posts, molded arched foot board carved with masks and gothicized architectural elements, blocked base, disc feet, casters, h. 93 in., l. 79 1/4 in., d. 56 in. Note: The intricately carved and monumental bed in the lot offered here is a blend of Gothic, Elizabethan and Jacobean styles. The bed’s overall form is a revival of the grand carved oak state beds made for English state homes during the 16th and 17th centuries. As Gothic Revival furniture became popular in the England during the first half the 19th century, the Elizabethan and Jacobean revivals emerged during the late 19th century and remained in fashion into the early 20th century. During this period, English furniture makers often copied the grand oak beds of English state homes. An early 20th century copy of an oak state bed from the Rothamsted Manor shares many of the same characteristics of the bed in the lot offered here, including the paneled tester, figural and mask carvings, and the highly-ornamented posts.
Ref.: Agius, Pauline. British Furniture, 1880-1915. England: Woodbridge, 1978, p. 43; “An Elizabethan Revival Oak Four Poster Bed, Lot 397.” Christie’s The Cowdray Sale: Works of Art from Cowdray Park and Dunecht House. 2011. www.christies.com. Accessed March 27, 2017; Macquoid, Percy. A History of English Furniture: The Age of Oak, 1500-1660. New York: Dover, 1972, pp. 73-77.

All lots are sold “As is” and “Where is”. Neal Auction provides condition reports on items with a low estimate over $500 as a courtesy to aid in your bidding decision. No statement regarding age, condition, kind, value, or quality of a lot, whether made orally at the auction or at any other time, or in writing in this catalogue or elsewhere, shall be construed to be an express or implied warranty, representation, or assumption of liability. Completed condition reports are posted as an additional image with the lot. Neal Auction does not give refunds.