Object Description
Here is a fabulous quality large antique 5ft 7” wide Victorian colonial Raj king size four-poster bed, which will fit a standard UK king size (5ft wide) mattress, circa 1880, in excellent original condition.
Summary:
• Circa: 1880
• Period: Victorian
• Provenance: India
• Wood: Sissoo (member of the Rosewood family)
• Mattress size: 5ft 7” wide by 6ft 9” long (maximum size)
• Affordable luxury quality mattresses available
• Protruding moulded canopy
• Four elegant barley twist posts
• Grape vine & floral carved crown
• Rope carved headboard top rail
• Grape vine carved fretwork headboard splats
• Floral carved turned spindles to headboard & footboard
• Blind fretwork bed side rails & frame – sign of quality
• Stunning quality carvings
• Barley twist turned footboard rail with spindles & floral central carving
• Turned floral carved legs
• Dismantles for easy transportation and access
• Original polish & patination
• Rich dark red & brown colour
• Excellent original condition
• Draping service available
• Free delivery to England, Wales & southern Scotland*
• Free 14 days UK returns policy
Description:
Here is a fabulous quality large antique 5ft 7” wide Victorian colonial Raj king size four-poster bed, circa 1880, in excellent original condition, originating from India. The bed will fit a standard UK king size mattress (which measures 5ft wide by 6ft 6” long) if the slats are lowered. However, the bed will also fit a custom size mattress of up to 5ft 7” wide, if the mattress width incorporates the side rails. The bed boasts a three-panel carved headboard depicting grapevines and flowers, interspersed with turned floral carved spindles below an arched rope carved headboard. The carved open fretwork detail to the headboard and crown is spectacular; this is evident in the floral and grapevine carvings seen on the crown, and the three rectangular panels, which sit below the crown. The crown also incorporates a pretty oval central carving, depicting a single flower.
Decorative blind fretwork detail is visible to the side rails and rails, along with the footboard. To the bottom of the bed, the footboard incorporates a barley twist top rail with central floral carving, supported by turned floral carved spindles. Above the bed frame, four elegant barley twist tapered posts support a protruding moulded canopy. Decorative foliate motifs sit at the top and bottom of the posts. The bed terminates on turned floral carved legs. The superstructure lends itself to being dressed with romantic fabric drapes.
Retaining the original polish and patination, the bed boasts a rich dark rich red and brown colour, with a satin French polish finish. The bed is constructed of sissoo wood (a member of the Rosewood family) and has a superior structure. This bed would look stunning in either a contemporary or traditional setting. It dismantles for easy transportation and we can provide affordable good quality custom mattresses. This is a superior quality centrepiece for any bedroom and ideal for those who prefer a wider bed.
Provenance:
The style of this bed dates from 1840 until 1947 (until Indian Independence). The beds were constructed for the British Raj, their families and the British Military in Colonial India. The beds were designed to collapse and be transported “flat pack” so could easily be moved whilst on military exercises and to their summerhouses in the hills. They were made when the Raj was at its height. The size, style and quality of the bed depict the status of the occupier or the military rank of the owner. They were made from the finest wood usually Mahogany, Teak or Sissoo wood (a member of the rose wood family).
Teak and sissoo wood were used extensively in the construction of these colonial four-poster beds because they had the advantage of only minimally expanding and contracting when exposed to extremes in temperature and humidity. They were resistant to woodworm, termites, and the occasional splash of seawater.
External Dimensions:
External Height = 215.5cm or 84⅞” or 7ft ⅞”
External Width = 183cm or 72” or 6ft
External Length = 229.6cm or 78⅜” or 7ft 6⅜”
Headboard height (including Crown) = 157.3cm or 62” or 5ft 2”
Headboard height (excluding Crown) = 115.6cm or 45½” or 3ft 9½”
Footboard height = 89cm or 35” or 2ft 11”
Height from floor to top of side rails = 58.8cm or 23⅛” or 1ft 11⅛”
Height from floor to bottom of side rails = 45.5cm or 17⅞” or 1ft 5⅞”
Side rail depth = 13.3cm or 60¼” or 5ft ¼”
Mattress Dimensions (slats not lowered):
Length = 206.6cm or 81⅜” or 6ft 9⅜” (maximum opening)
Width (slats) = 163.8cm or 64½” or 5ft 4½” (maximum opening)
Width (including side rails) = 172cm or 67¾” or 5ft 7¾” (maximum opening)
Mattress Dimensions (slats lowered):
Length = 206.6cm or 81⅜” or 6ft 9⅜” (maximum opening)
Width = 160.2cm or 63⅛” or 5ft 3⅛” (maximum opening)
This bed will fit a standard UK king size mattress (which measures 5ft wide by 6ft 6” long). The mattress shown on the bed in the pictures is a UK king size mattress. However, it is advised that a custom size mattress is supplied, as this will fit the bed frame more closely and maximise the mattress space. The actual dimensions of the custom mattress will depend on whether the slats are lowered or not.
Free UK Delivery*:
We offer free delivery to mainland England, Wales, and Southern Scotland (anywhere south of Stirling). *We do not offer free delivery to locations north of Stirling in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or any British Islands off the mainland; for example, the Isle of Man, Isle of White and Channel Islands. If you live in one of the areas where we do not offer free delivery, please contact us for a delivery quote before purchasing the item. Delivery will be made by our specialised antique furniture delivery service, or in some cases we will use a courier service for distant deliveries.
Delivery times are usually 1-4 weeks depending on location; we aim to deliver the majority of items within 2 weeks. All items are professionally packaged and fully insured in transit, therefore, we can assure you, your items will be securely protected in transit and arrive safely with you.
Once you have purchased an item, we will contact you by email and/or telephone and provide you with a provisional delivery date, in order for you to confirm if it is suitable for you. Once you have confirmed you can accept delivery on the provisional delivery date, we will book the delivery in with our shippers and it then becomes a confirmed delivery date.
We will also provide you with our shippers’ contact details, in case you need to contact the driver on the day of delivery. It’s helpful if you can provide us with both the landline and mobile telephone number, in case the driver cannot reach you on one of the numbers on the day of delivery, they can contact you on your alternative number.
In order to be able to offer you free delivery, it is based on a 1-man delivery only. For any large items that require 2 people to lift the item, we ask that you are available at the time of delivery to be able to give our shipper a lift off the van and into your house with the item. If you are not able to lift items yourself, we ask that you have someone on hand at the time of delivery to assist our shipper with lifting the item.
Free 14 Days UK Returns & Refunds:
A free 14-day “no quibble” returns policy (from the date you receive the item) is available if you are not happy with this item. We will collect the item free of charge from you (we do not charge a return fee / collection fee). You will be given a full refund as long as the item is returned in the same condition. We will collect returns using our own specialist furniture delivery company. We will not accept returns via a courier service (due to experience of damaged items in transit). This refund policy only applies to deliveries to the UK.
UK Buyer Payment:
For UK buyers, we accept cash on collection or delivery; cheque, credit card, BACS (free bank to bank transfer) or PayPal. Payment is requested within 5 days of the sale. Payment must be cleared before the items are collected or delivered.
International Buyers:
If you live outside the UK and you would like to purchase this item, please contact us before purchasing it, so that we can obtain an accurate shipping quote and delivery lead-time. The shipping quote provided is a global estimate only. The actual shipping cost will vary by country and postcode. Due to the distances and costs involved with shipping outside the UK, a returns policy is therefore not available for international buyers. Before placing your order(s) please make sure this is the item for you. We request payment by bank transfer (we do not accept payment via PayPal, credit or debit cards for international purchases). Payment is requested within 10 days of the purchase. Payment must be cleared before the items are collected or delivered to our shippers. The advertised price of the item does not include the shipping cost, sales tax, import duty or custom fees.
Important information regarding PayPal payment:
We only accept payment from fully verified PayPal account holders with confirmed addresses only. Items will only be sent to the confirmed address registered in PayPal. If you purchase an item and your address is not confirmed, your payment will be refunded and the purchase cancelled. It only takes a few moments to verify and confirm your PayPal details.
About the Seller:
This item is being sold by Yola Gray Antiques who is an accredited member of LAPADA (the UK’s largest Trade Association of Professional Art and Antique Dealers) and CINOA. CINOA is the world association of Art & Antique dealer associations. All LAPADA & CINOA members abide by their strict code of practice by adhering to reputable standards of quality, expertise and integrity.
Yola Gray has dealt in fine art and antique furniture for over 40 years. Yola Gray has a special interest in Colonial furniture, specifically Colonial Four Poster Beds. Yola Gray also provides a variety of fine English Antique Furniture, Art and Fabrics to clients in the UK, Europe and further afield.
Please visit the Yola Gray website at www.yolagray.com for further items and information.
Ref. A235