Smith & Co.. <em>Convertible Bed in Form of Upright Piano</em>, ca. 1885. Ebonized woods, metal, 55 1/2 x 54 3/4 x 27 in. (141 x 139.1 x 68.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Elinor Merrell, 86.176. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.176_threequarter_bw.jpg)

Smith & Co.. Convertible Bed in Form of Upright Piano, ca. 1885. Ebonized woods, metal, 55 1/2 x 54 3/4 x 27 in. (141 x 139.1 x 68.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Elinor Merrell, 86.176. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.176_threequarter_bw.jpg)

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Convertible Bed in Form of Upright Piano

Smith & Co.

Decorative Arts and Design

The piano was an important element of the parlor in the United States in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It was a focus of family life and attested to the social aspirations of the owner. The consumer of this convertible piano-bed could, in a way, have his cake and eat it too--enjoying the propriety that a piano conferred on his parlor while gaining a reasonably comfortable sleeping unit for a large family living in limited space. The amusing idea of sleeping in a piano (or a fancy parlor cabinet, in the case of the parlor bedstead) must have been part of the furniture's appeal.

ARTIST Smith & Co.

MEDIUM Ebonized woods, metal

Place Manufactured: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

DATES ca. 1885

DIMENSIONS 55 1/2 x 54 3/4 x 27 in. (141 x 139.1 x 68.6 cm) (show scale)

MARKINGS On back, stamped: "5734A"; stenciled: "SMITH & c." Two fragmentary paper labels [give directions on how to open and use bed; see files for full text]

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts and Design

ACCESSION NUMBER 86.176

CREDIT LINE Gift of Elinor Merrell

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Convertible bed in form of upright piano. When closed: Rectangular case with paneled sides; front has paneled lower section with 2 pedals and on each side of case, s-scrolled brackets support sham keyboard. Above keyboard is central music rest of framed, fan-shaped fretwork, flanked by two panels of fretwork of palmettes and scrollwork. Lid hinges open and front of "piano" hinges at base to open to bed with mesh and wire support for mattress. CONDITION: Finish discolored and "whitish" throughout. Proper right lower support for scroll bracket is loose. Minor cracks and separation in flanking fretwork panels on front.

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Smith & Co.. Convertible Bed in Form of Upright Piano, ca. 1885. Ebonized woods, metal, 55 1/2 x 54 3/4 x 27 in. (141 x 139.1 x 68.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Elinor Merrell, 86.176. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.176_threequarter_bw.jpg)

IMAGE 86.176_threequarter_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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