Poster Beds, Back In Fashion?

Poster Beds in 2011

Poster beds are enjoying a revival in modern times, most likely the best known posted bed, being the classic four poster bed, these beds are thought to have originated in Austria, but their fame stems from Tudor England in the 1500?s.

Olde worlde poster beds.

The early classics were heavy, solid oak masterpieces, heavily draped in velvet drapery, often jewel encrusted. The poster bed became the ultimate status symbol in Tudor times, and we see this pattern being repeated today.

Imagine, for a minute, King Henry 8th in his sleeping quarters, with half a ton of oak, and velvet for a bed, not the most practicle piece of furniture for this day and age, but they didn't move castles, like we move homes today.

Even the names ooze with tradition and status, where you can order the more modest Queen poster bed, the regal King poster bed, or the stately four poster bed, whichever you choose to fit your home, you can be sure of a royal nights sleep, just like King Henry 8th.

In pride of place at the Victoria and Albert museum, in the UK, stands the worlds most famous bed. This gargantuan relic, know as the great bed of Ware, was made for the White Hart Inn, in Ware, Hertfordshire, in England at around 1590. This impressive piece measures 12 ft wide, and 12 ft long, and 11 ft tall, where over 20 people could sleep at once!

Modern Poster Beds

The days of these Tudor giants are over, and todays poster beds offer contemporary design, culture, and style, manufacture is from both Europe, and the US, and the once heavy drapes have evolved into fine silks, and even fly screens.

The massive poster beds of the past, that used to sleep entire families, have been replaced by modern, durable standard sized poster beds, that not only look great, but are built to last.

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