What is this handle for?
I'm so glad you saw that, no one ever notices that handle and it's so cool! The maker of this bed, John Henry Belter, was an German-American craftsmen and created 4 different pieces of patented furniture, this bed is one. The patent for this bed, dated August 19, 1856, boasts that it can be disassembled easily in case of fire and that its construction eliminates the intricate joints and recesses around the individual parts of ordinary bedsteads, areas "notorious as hiding places for bugs." That handle helps the person disassemble it!
Oh! Wow! Haha, you'd just pull it?
Pretty cool, right? There are other versions of patented furniture on view on the 5th floor in the Luce Center, if you want to see more. The patent states that it is made in two pieces, my guess is that the handle we see would detach those pieces from each other.
Oh! I wonder if it was a bother though.
I'm sure it was, if you ever had to actually take it apart. I often find early patents somewhat funny. We have a chair in the collection that transforms into a step-stool by pushing a lever. However, it doesn't look as simple as the paper patent makes it seem. I think these were just very early solutions to problems but they were definitely revolutionary in their time!
Is there a function for Belter mattress to be shaped so oddly?
Good question! The mattress was made to fit on the bed that has an unusual, patented feature. The maker of this bed, John Henry Belter, was an German-American craftsmen and created 4 different pieces of patented furniture, this bed is one. The patent for this bed, dated August 19, 1856, boasts that it can be disassembled easily in case of fire and that its construction eliminates the intricate joints and recesses around the individual parts of ordinary bedsteads, areas "notorious as hiding places for bugs." The handle helps the person disassemble it!
Totally nerdy question about this bed on 4th floor: what kind of glues did he use and how long will it last before the laminate peels? Any restoration needed when bringing it here?
Whoa--very specific! Here's what we know about glue: until the 1950s, when white or yellow PVA glue became standard, animal or hide glue was used. Made from boiling hides, hide glue is very strong and long-lasting.
Hehe *blush* the engineer in me was curious.
The conservators report says this was in good condition, so it probably didn't need too much restoration when it arrived in the Museum collection. Not sure if the glue or laminate was treated at this time.
Oh, you're an engineer?! Did you notice the lever on the side of the bed?
Whoa. I did not!
I feel like as an engineer you will especially appreciate just why this bed is special. The maker of this bed, John Henry Belter, was an German-American craftsmen and created 4 different pieces of patented furniture, this bed is one...
The thing that looks like... a padded....elephant tusk?
it can be disassembled easily in case of fire and the construction eliminates the intricate joints and recesses around the individual parts of ordinary bedsteads, areas "notorious as hiding places for bugs." That handle helps the person disassemble it!
Hah! So cool!!
Isn't it? It's a bit of a feat of late 19th-century ingenuity and engineering!
My son would like to know why there are cherubs on this bed.
That's a great question! John Henry Belter was well-known for his own style of Rococo (which often features cherubs and dense floral ornamentation) I don't think there is too much meaning to the angels other than to be decorative. This bed is pretty special for a different reason though.
This bed had a special patent! The bed could be easily disassembled and saved, in case of fire. The patent design also eliminated joints and recesses found in other beds where bed bugs could hide.
What was the purpose of the protrusion on each side of the bed?
I believe you are referring to one of the handles. This bed, designed by John Henry Belter, was intended to be easily taken apart. The patent for this bed, dated August 19, 1856, boasts that it can be disassembled easily in case of fire and that its construction eliminates the intricate joints and recesses around the individual parts of ordinary bedsteads, areas "notorious as hiding places for bugs." The handle helps the person disassemble it!
Can you tell me broadly how American Rococo differed from the French style that I usually associate with that word?
The main difference here is time.This bed is in the Rococo Revival style which was a style popular in America in the mid-19th century. Anything French was fashionable at this time, especially designs made in the Rococo Louis XV style from the mid-18th century. One difference is that French Rococo furniture was often asymmetrical, which is less common in Rococo Revival. Another difference is the materials and techniques used to construct the piece. The Belter bed used special modern tools to bend expensive wood veneers over a cheaper carcass. True Rococo furniture was typically solid wood and hand-carved.
Dime más.
Esta cama es en el estilo Rococo, que es caracterizada por curvas feminos y ornamentacion naturalistica.
La cama podría desmontarse y guardarse fácilmente, en caso de un incendio. El diseño también eliminó las articulaciones y los recesos que se encuentran en otras camas donde las chinches podrían esconderse.
What is this?
You're looking at a bed designed by John Henry Belter around 1856. This bed was designed to be taken apart easily in case of fire!
Its design also eliminated the intricate joints and recesses that an ordinary bed stand has, areas that are "notorious hiding places for bugs.
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Interesting; it doesn’t look easy to take apart.
No, it doesn't! It looks pretty intricate, especially compared to today's flat-pack furniture.
Thanks.
Can you tell me why the side of the bed holding the mattress is jutting out?
It has to do with the construction of the bed! You are looking at handles on each side of the mattress, which are levers that help make for quick disassembling. The bed could be easily taken apart and saved in case of fire. This kind of bed construction, patented by Belter, also eliminated joints and recesses found in other beds where bedbugs could hide!
Ok thank you!
