Until late Victorian times, the four-poster or canopy bed was regarded as an essential possession for any family of substance and was frequently the most expensive piece of household furniture. Elizabethan and Jacobean beds have heavily carved and turned foot posts, often with melon or cup-and-cover turnings, with the canopy or tester constructed of wood. During the Georgian and Regency periods, the timber posts became much more slender and finely turned, although the draperies were often quite lavish and fantastic. Turnings on Victorian beds, in line with overall trends, were much heavier and more baluster shaped. In general, the foot posts were more ornate than the head posts, and the curtain rails may be square, arched or sometimes domed.The heads of many of the beds were of unpolished timber, intended to be covered by curtaining. Therefore any four poster beds with a polished headboard should be more...

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A large cedar four-poster Tester bed, Australian circa 1845,…

A large cedar four-poster Tester bed, Australian circa 1845, large turned column uprights,

A cedar single tester bed, Australian circa 1855, spiral carved…

A cedar single tester bed, Australian circa 1855, spiral carved columns

A cedar four posted single tester bed, Australian circa 1855,…

A cedar four posted single tester bed, Australian circa 1855, Canopy 132 cm wide and 212 cm long

A cedar four-poster bed, Australian, circa 1845, with canopy,…

A cedar four-poster bed, Australian, circa 1845, with canopy, approx. 132 cm wide

A very impressive Australian cedar and rose-mahogany four…

A very impressive Australian cedar and rose-mahogany four poster bed, Australian, circa 1835. with rope twist turned posts. all round, double acanthus leaf carving, carved feet and feather carved bolt covers, with "Thomas Hope", scroll, . Provenance: Swan…

An impressive finely carved cedar and rose mahogany four-poster…

An impressive finely carved cedar and rose mahogany four-poster bed. Australian circa 1845. with cartouche to the top. Provenance: The collection of Graham and Elizabeth Cocks Bonhams Sydney November 2012 lot 198. Reference:Kevin Fahy and Andrew Simpson…

An Australian cedar four poster double bed with Rolling-Pin…

Late 19th Century Australian Cedar Four Poster Bed

An Australian cedar four poster double bed with Rolling-Pin surmount. Late 19th century, height 190 cm

Australian Colonial cedar half tester bed, Tasmania, late 19th…

Australian Colonial Cedar Half Tester Bed

Australian Colonial cedar half tester bed, Tasmania, late 19th century, the moulded tester with a floral cotton roof and a pair of matching curtains, the footboard with carved medallion depicting pears and berries, height 222 cm width 213 cm depth 143 cm.…

Early 19th century Tasmanian four poster bed mattress measures…

Antique Tasmanian Four Poster Bed and Mattress

Early 19th century Tasmanian four poster bed mattress measures 135 cm x 190 cm four poster measures 233 cm high, 142 cm x 210 cm long.

Colonial cedar and blackwood single farmhouse four poster bed

Cedar & Blackwood Farmhouse Four Poster Bed

Colonial cedar and blackwood single farmhouse four poster bed

19th century cedar farmhouse four poster bed

Cedar Four Poster Bed from 19th Century Farmhouse

19th century cedar farmhouse four poster bed

19th century cedar & blackwood 4 poster farmhouse bed

Cedar & Blackwood 4 Poster Farmhouse Bed - 19th Century

19th century cedar & blackwood 4 poster farmhouse bed

Colonial style four poster bed, comprising two antique original…

Antique Colonial Four Poster Bed

Colonial style four poster bed, comprising two antique original elaborately turned and carved posts, the remainder adapted later, lacking headboard, height 220 cm, width 150, depth 198

Pair of four poster Queensland maple single beds mid 20th…

Mid-century Queensland maple four poster single bed

Pair of four poster Queensland maple single beds mid 20th century, one bed only shown in image, width 106.5, height 146 cm, with side irons

Colonial Australian cedar & NSW rosewood four poster canopy bed…

Antique Canopy Bed with Carved Decoration (c1850)

Colonial Australian cedar & NSW rosewood four poster canopy bed with acanthus & classical carved decoration (c1850). Provenance: Osborne Family double Bay NSW)

Colonial blackwood four poster double farmhouse bed with shaped…

Blackwood Farmhouse Four Poster Bed with Bullseye Decoration

Colonial blackwood four poster double farmhouse bed with shaped ends & bullseye decoration

A fine Tasmanian huon pine four poster double bed, circa 1845

1845 Tasmanian Huon Pine Four Poster Double Bed

A fine Tasmanian huon pine four poster double bed, circa 1845

Antique mid 19th century Australian Colonial cedar four poster…

19th Century Australian Colonial Cedar Four Poster Bed

Antique mid 19th century Australian Colonial cedar four poster bed, fitted with shaped back board, canopy top, well carved turned posts, drapery included, 215 cm high, 205 cm long, 150 cm wide (bolt tool in office)

Antique Aberglasslyn House bed, important most elaborate cedar…

Elaborate Cedar Four Post Bed, C1840

Antique Aberglasslyn House bed, important most elaborate cedar four post bed, This bed has been described by experts as an outstanding example of early Australian Furniture. It is of commanding proportions. The tapering baluster and reeded posts are…

Huon pine four poster bed. Fine Australian huon & birdseye huon…

Huon Pine Four Poster Bed

Huon pine four poster bed. Fine Australian huon & birdseye huon pine bed Tasmania c1860 shaped canopy with Curtain Rods above a pair of octagonal posts with Elaborately carved capitals ex the Dale Frank collection (Bonham roll) reference: Australian…

A huon pine half tester bed, Australian, circa 1860, approx.…

1860 Australian Huon Pine Half Tester Bed

A huon pine half tester bed, Australian, circa 1860, approx. 264 cm high, 205 cm wide, 163 cm deep

A cedar four poster bed, Australian, circa 1880, approx. 160 cm…

Cedar Four Poster Bed, Australian, Circa 1880

A cedar four poster bed, Australian, circa 1880, approx. 160 cm high, 213 cm wide, 100 cm deep

Colonial kauri half tester bed

Kauri Colonial Half Tester Bed

Colonial kauri half tester bed

Four poster modern double bed and new mattress Ex Poco design…

Modern Four Poster Double Bed with New Mattress

Four poster modern double bed and new mattress Ex Poco design Sydney

Pair of 19th century cedar farmhouse four poster bed ends

19th Century Cedar Farmhouse Four Poster Bed Ends Pair

Pair of 19th century cedar farmhouse four poster bed ends

Colonial cedar single four poster bed with turned columns,…

Cedar Four Poster Bed, c1860

Colonial cedar single four poster bed with turned columns, c1860. Height 202 cm, width 124 cm

A cedar 4 poster bed with finely turned barley twist columns &…

Cedar 4 Poster Bed with Barley Twist Columns & Scrolling Headboard

A cedar 4 poster bed with finely turned barley twist columns & Thomas Hope scrolling headboard, c1840. 223 x 146 x 206 cm. Provenance: Sir Rupert & Lady Steel.

19th century cedar half tester bed

Cedar Half Tester Bed from the 19th Century

19th century cedar half tester bed

An impressive late 19th early 20th century Sri Lankan Colonial…

Sri Lankan Colonial Canopy Bed

An impressive late 19th early 20th century Sri Lankan Colonial four poster canopy bed, the folding canopy supported by tapered faceted supports, the bed head with scroll molded crest and back 175 cm width, 213 cm long, 45 cm (from floor to base)

19th century cedar and blackwood bed, four poster, farmhouse…

Farmhouse Four Poster Bed in Cedar and Blackwood

19th century cedar and blackwood bed, four poster, farmhouse style