These items have been sold, and the description, image and price ($US) are for reference purposes only.

As early as 1833, J.C. Loudon in his Encyclopedia was singing the praises of the wrought or cast iron bedstead, partly because they were less likely to 'harbour vermin', and partly because of their cheapness. The iron beds were made in a variety of designs stump beds (with short ends not intended to have curtains), tent beds, half tester and four-poster beds.

The early iron beds were usually fairly plain, except perhaps for the brass knobs at the top of each post. With the advances in manufacturing techniques during ,the 19th century, the beds became more elaborate. Some were made of solid brass, others of iron coated with brass. The cast-iron beds were usually painted black or sometimes white, but assumed more and more decorative features. Brass circles, fitted with glass or mirrors, brass sleeves, brass or painted china spindles (known to the trade as 'porcelains'), more... mother-of-pearl inlay, brass rods and finials were all used to ornament the bed. Some iron beds had decorative wrought, cast or pierced designs in the end panels. Plain, cheap iron beds of course continued to be made either for servants or for children.

The top and foot of each bed were fitted together with bars (known as 'irons'), having shaped ends that slotted into matching female sections in the cast crosspiece. The great advantage of the brass and iron beds, apart from their cheapness, was that they could be easily dismantled and great quantities were exported to the colonial markets. The illustrated catalogues of the period show that the brass and iron bed was virtually a standard household possession until the late 1920s, and the designs show relatively little change over those made half a century before.

The four-poster or tester bed had curtains draped on all sides of the bed. The half tester or Italian bedstead had high posts at the head but only short posts at the foot, where most of the decorative brass work was lavished. The wire mattress bases on most bedsteads were separate and supported on an iron or wooden frame attached to the bed with bolts. Small upright brackets on the side irons prevented the base from slipping. Early bases were mainly flat, crossed pieces of thin metal. The head posts were sometimes further strengthened with serpentine-shaped brackets fitting into the post and side iron, sometimes known as 'pillow brackets'. They certainly prevent the pillow from falling off the bed. less...

A large and very impressive carved cedar and rose-mahogany…
Impressive Australian Cedar Four-Poster Bed with Cast Iron Brackets

A large and very impressive carved cedar and rose-mahogany four-poster bed. Australian circa 1845. unusually supported by cast iron brackets with wood wheels to aid in mobility and ease of bed-making. Provenance: The Collection of Graham and Elizabeth Cock

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Austrian painted metal parcel-gilt single bed, late 19th…
Austrian painted metal parcel-gilt single bed, late 19th century

Austrian painted metal parcel-gilt single bed, late 19th century, pistachio coloured, surrmounted by central crowned figure flanked by two mermaids, above scrolls and tassels, with central medallion, height 59.06 in., length 77.56 in., depth 37.80 in.; 75…

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Austrian painted metal and parcel-gilt single bed, late 19th…
Austrian 19th Century Painted Metal and Gilt Single Bed

Austrian painted metal and parcel-gilt single bed, late 19th century, dark rifle green, surrmounted by central crowned figure flanked by two mermaids, above scrolls and tassels, central medallion with gilt birds butterflies and foliage, height 60.24 in.,…

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Wonderful cast iron double bed, set with gilt roundels to top…
Gilded White Cast Iron Double Bed with Roundel Accents

Wonderful cast iron double bed, set with gilt roundels to top of each post, in a white finish with gilt accents

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A brass and cast iron Queen size bed frame, 154 cm high, 204 cm…
Brass and Cast Iron Queen Bed Frame

A brass and cast iron Queen size bed frame, 60.63 in. high, 80.31 in. wide, 59.06 in. deep

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Two French childrens beds, painted iron frame on castors with…
French Striped Cotton Upholstered Iron Children's Beds

Two French childrens beds, painted iron frame on castors with French striped cotton upholstery. France, c 1800s, 45.67 in. high, 36.02 in. wide, 75.20 in. deep.

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A cast iron and brass bed frame, 19th century, the double ended…
19th Century Queen Size Cast Iron Bed Frame

A cast iron and brass bed frame, 19th century, the double ended Queen size bed frame, stamped a Cme to cast iron frame, painted ivory, comes with side rails, no base. Height 68.90 in., width 61.02 in., (bed head)

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Colonial double bed ends, blackwood and eucalypt, Tasmanian…
Tasmanian Colonial Blackwood Double Bed

Colonial double bed ends, blackwood and eucalypt, Tasmanian origin, early to mid 19th century, with later iron rails, 48.03 in. high, 51.97 in. wide

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A Louis XV style gilt metal mounted Queen size bed
Gilt Metal Queen Bed in Louis XV Style

A Louis XV style gilt metal mounted Queen size bed

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A brass bed head, 183 wide x 113 h
Brass Bed Head: Elegant and Timeless Design

A brass bed head, 183 wide x 113 h

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
An antique brass and iron double bed with floral porcelain…
Floral Porcelain Decorated Antique Brass Double Bed

An antique brass and iron double bed with floral porcelain decoration, late 19th early 20th century, 68.90 in. high, 138 cm wide, 77.17 in. long

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A superb Louis XV style French bed, consisting of an impressive…
Louis XV Style Marquetry Inlaid French Bed

A superb Louis XV style French bed, consisting of an impressive marquetry inlaid head board with gilt metal mounts, a matching end board and side rails. C. 1900 complete with base supports, height 62.20 in., width 58.27 in., length 78.74 in.

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A salesman's sample folding iron bed with original mattress and…
19th Century Folding Iron Bed with Mattress and Quilt

A salesman's sample folding iron bed with original mattress and additional quilt, 19th century, 14.57 in. high, 22.05 in. wide, 10.63 in. deep

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Brass queen size bed
Queen Brass Bed - Elegant and Timeless Design

Brass queen size bed

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
French Second Empire cast iron folding campaign bed, 3rd…
19th Century French Folding Campaign Bed

French Second Empire cast iron folding campaign bed, 3rd quarter of the 19th century

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Antique fold away iron & brass bed 193 cm long set up, 62 cm…
Antique Iron & Brass Fold-Away Bed - 193 cm Long

Antique fold away iron & brass bed 75.98 in. long set up, 24.41 in. wide

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A fine Napoleon III Queen size bed, circa 1870, in carved ebony,…
Napoleon III Ebony Queen Bed with Parquetry Cartouche

A fine Napoleon III Queen size bed, circa 1870, in carved ebony, satinwood and brass inlaid, the foot featuring a parquetry cartouche of birds nesting, 66.93 in. high (head), 54.72 in. wide, 122.44 in. long

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A Napoleon style double bed with brass inlay and mounts
Brass-Inlaid Napoleon-Style Double Bed

A Napoleon style double bed with brass inlay and mounts

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A convict folding iron bed, Tasmanian origin, 19th century, 190…
Tasmanian Convict Iron Bed, 19th Century

A convict folding iron bed, Tasmanian origin, 19th century, 74.80 in. long

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Antique brass double bed comprising of bed ends, rails and a…
Antique Brass Double Bed with Solid Slat Frame

Antique brass double bed comprising of bed ends, rails and a solid slat frame base, approximate mattress maximum size 57.09 in. x 76.77 in.

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Antique French forged iron screen / bed head, made from part of…
Forged Iron Paris Bridge Screen/Bed Head - Antique

Antique French forged iron screen / bed head, made from part of a Paris bridge, 86.61 in. wide, 48.82 in. high

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A rectangular linen double bed head with metal stud detail
Linen Double Bed Head with Metal Stud Detail

A rectangular linen double bed head with metal stud detail

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
An Edwardian double bed in huon pine with, two panelled…
Edwardian Huon Pine Double Bed with Cast Iron Rails

An Edwardian double bed in huon pine with, two panelled decoration, on head & foot, includes cast iron rails, height 53.54 in., length 84.65 in., depth 59.84 in.

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
An antique metal double bed, black painted with silvered…
Silvered Antique Double Bed - 172cm High

An antique metal double bed, black painted with silvered details, 67.72 in. high,

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A brass single bed, and an antique cast iron single bed, the…
Antique Single Beds: Brass and Cast Iron

A brass single bed, and an antique cast iron single bed, the brass bed 52.76 in. high, 40.16 in. wide, 79.92 in. long. The other 50.79 in. high,

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A fine Louis XVI style mahogany and brass inlaid double bed,…
Mahogany and Brass Inlaid Louis XVI Double Bed

A fine Louis XVI style mahogany and brass inlaid double bed, late 19th century, with rails and slats, with an arching crest and fluted side pillars with cast fruit finials, finely, inlaid with trophies, scrolling acanthus and formal urn style decorations,

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Victorian cast iron powder coated bed, with rails
Victorian Cast Iron Bed with Rails

Victorian cast iron powder coated bed, with rails

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Victorian double brass bed 135 cm, x 193 cm, (inside dimension),…
Victorian Brass Double Bed - 135x193cm, 150cm high

Victorian double brass bed 53.15 in., x 75.98 in., (inside dimension), 82.68 in., x 57.09 in., 59.06 in., high (outside dimension)

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Couch/day bed, Regency designed cast iron, made by a Simpson…
Regency Cast Iron Daybed by Simpson and Son, Adelaide

Couch/day bed, Regency designed cast iron, made by a Simpson and Son, Adelaide c1890, sprung base and elegant form with single end, nicely worked and of a restrained decoration, length 73.62 in.

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Antique ornate painted cast iron dolls' bed, with brass accent…
Antique Cast Iron Dolls' Bed with Brass Accents

Antique ornate painted cast iron dolls' bed, with brass accent on castors, 31.50 in. height, 26.77 in. length, 17.32 in. width

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A French mahogany and brass inlaid bed, circa 1880s. 136 cm…
French Mahogany Inlaid Bed, 1880s

A French mahogany and brass inlaid bed, circa 1880s. 53.54 in. wide, 60.43 in. high

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A French mahogany and brass inlaid bed, circa 1870. 190 cm wide,…
French Inlaid Mahogany Brass Bed, 1870

A French mahogany and brass inlaid bed, circa 1870. 74.80 in. wide, 72.05 in. deep, the bedhead 56.69 in. high

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A Louis Philippe period cast iron bed c1840
Louis Philippe Cast Iron Bed c1840

A Louis Philippe period cast iron bed c1840

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A 19th century brass and iron 'Propellor' double bed
Antique Propellor Brass and Iron Double Bed

A 19th century brass and iron 'Propellor' double bed

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A double bed, Edwardian, in square section brass, complete with…
Edwardian Brass Double Bed with Rails - 144cm Width

A double bed, Edwardian, in square section brass, complete with rails. Width 56.69 in.

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
An exceptional and rare Empire period brass bed French, circa…
Rare Empire Period Brass Bed, French, Circa 1820

An exceptional and rare Empire period brass bed French, circa 1820 69.69 in. high, 74.80 in. wide, 89.37 in. long

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
An Edwardian brass double bed. 134 cm high, 140 cm wide
Edwardian Brass Double Bed - 134x140 cm

An Edwardian brass double bed. 52.76 in. high, 55.12 in. wide

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A French rosewood double bed, late 19th to early 20th century,…
Louis XVI Rosewood Double Bed

A French rosewood double bed, late 19th to early 20th century, with restrained Louis XVI influence, the elegantly framed arched bed head flanked by fluted pillars and brass pomegranate finials and raised on toupie feet, the rectangular end board of conform

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A Henri II style 19th century walnut bedstead. Queen size, the…
19th Century Walnut Bedstead with Brass and Copper Accents

A Henri II style 19th century walnut bedstead. Queen size, the head and foot each with brass uprights and splats, inset signed panel with copper foliate decoration. 59.06 in. wide.

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A Victorian brass double bed, second half 19th century, the…
Victorian Brass Double Bed

A Victorian brass double bed, second half 19th century, the square form bed with finials to the posts and enclosing a series of slender rods with knopped embellishments, the end conforming and with associated rails. Height 57.48 in. (bed head) and 41.73…

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Salesman Sample miniature iron bed with fold down sides, 19th…
19th Century Miniature Iron Bed with Fold Down Sides

Salesman Sample miniature iron bed with fold down sides, 19th century. 14.17 in. high, 17.72 in. wide, 10.63 in. deep

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Victorian cast iron and brass double bedstead
Victorian Brass and Cast Iron Double Bed

Victorian cast iron and brass double bedstead

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Antique single cast iron bed
Vintage Cast Iron Bed

Antique single cast iron bed

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A Napoleon III mahogany bed, later 19th century, withEmpire…
Napoleon III Mahogany Bed with Empire Styling

A Napoleon III mahogany bed, later 19th century, withEmpire styling, the elegant bed in two toned mahogany, with a simple panelled frieze trimmed in brass above a larger panel inset with deeper toned mahogany and small brass paterae embellishments, with fl

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
An exceptional bronze mounted forged iron four poster bed,…
17th Century Italian Bronze Mounted Four Poster Bed

An exceptional bronze mounted forged iron four poster bed, Italian, early 17th century. 96.85 in. high, 85.04 in. wide, 65.35 in. deep Reference: Decorative Ironwork, Umberto Zimelli & Giovanni Vergerio, Paul Hamlyn, England, 1969, pp 58-9

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A fine and rare forged iron four poster bed, Italian, 17th…
17th Century Italian Forged Iron Four Poster Bed

A fine and rare forged iron four poster bed, Italian, 17th century. 92.52 in. high, 81.10 in. wide, 60.63 in. deep

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Rare Victorian all brass double bedstead with rails & slat base
Victorian Brass Double Bedstead with Rails and Slat Base

Rare Victorian all brass double bedstead with rails & slat base

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Antique French Empire iron & polished steel bed, approx 95 cm…
French Empire Iron & Steel Bed - Antique

Antique French Empire iron & polished steel bed, approx 37.40 in. high, 81.50 in. long, 51.18 in. wide

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Pair of antique brass inlaid beds, each approx 140 cm high, 203…
Antique Brass Inlaid Beds - Pair

Pair of antique brass inlaid beds, each approx 55.12 in. high, 79.92 in. long, 46.06 in. wide (2)

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Austrian 19th century metal bedstead with cast iron mermaid…
Mermaid Metal Bedstead with Serpent Feet

Austrian 19th century metal bedstead with cast iron mermaid decoration to tops and serpent feet, no rails

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Antique European walnut single bed with gilt metal mounts,…
European Walnut Bed with Gilt Metal Mounts

Antique European walnut single bed with gilt metal mounts, approx 46.06 in. high, 81.10 in. long, 40.55 in. wide

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Pair of antique painted metal bed ends, approx 138 cm high and…
Antique painted metal bed ends, 138 cm high

Pair of antique painted metal bed ends, approx 54.33 in. high and smaller

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A Louis XV style Boulle manner ebonised and cut brass inlaid…
Boulle Style Ebonised Bed with Cut Brass Inlay

A Louis XV style Boulle manner ebonised and cut brass inlaid bed the serpentine bed head with buttoned velvet upholstery, the whole ornately inlaid with cut brass panels, gilt metal mounts, 80.31 in. long, 31.50 in. wide

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A brass double bed, English, 19th century, 210 cm long, 140 cm…
Antique English Brass Double Bed - 19th Century

A brass double bed, English, 19th century, 82.68 in. long, 55.12 in. wide

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A French mahogany Louis XVI style bed, circa 1920s, gently…
Louis XVI Mahogany Bed with Gilt Bronze Details

A French mahogany Louis XVI style bed, circa 1920s, gently arched with a central gilt bronze festoon, having quarter veneer panels below with cross banding and stringing, the end board conforming, with additional gilt bronze pendant motifs to the edges and

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Antique French iron bed
French Iron Antique Bed

Antique French iron bed

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Impressive antique French carved walnut bed with brass tubular…
French Walnut Bed with Brass Tubular Surround

Impressive antique French carved walnut bed with brass tubular surround, approx 56.69 in. wide

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
A French burr walnut veneer bed, circa 1925, with both Art Deco…
French Art Deco Burr Walnut Bed with Empire Influences

A French burr walnut veneer bed, circa 1925, with both Art Deco and Empire influences, the refined rectangular bed with generous gilt metal foliate swags and a central foliate and floral embellishment, the bed end of breakfront form with a concave pediment

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Antique French mahogany brass bound bed of large size inner…
Antique French Brass Bound Mahogany Bed, Large Size

Antique French mahogany brass bound bed of large size inner measurements, 56.69 in.

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Antique French painted metal bed
French Painted Metal Bed

Antique French painted metal bed

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Loading more...