The Great Bed of Ware

The Great Bed of Ware. Carved and painted oak with marquetry. England, c.1590. One of the best-known pieces of English furniture, this bed has been famous since it was made, for its unusually large size. No other beds on this scale are known. The woodwork is profusely carved with anglicised Renaissance patterns, acanthus leaves and strapwork. The human figures carved on the headboard and the underside of the tester, or wooden canopy, show traces of paint and would originally have been brightly coloured, as was much Elizabethan furniture. The two marquetry panels in the headboard showing architectural scenes and swans are typical of the work introduced by German craftsmen settling in London in the late 16th century, and are strongly influenced by the designs of Hans Vredeman de Vries (1527 - 1604), the Dutch artist.
Hangings would originally have been suspended from the tester on three sides to provide privacy and warmth, with valances on the tester and below the bedframe to hide the legs. The bedding would have been substantial on a bed of this quality. Bedcords would have been threaded through the holes in the bedstock to support the mattresses. Specially designed tighteners were used to keep these taut, giving rise to the expression 'sleep tight'. A woven or plaited rush bedmat would have been placed over the cords, supporting several layers of mattresses, possibly flock below and feather above.
The origins of the bed are unclear. It was probably made as a curiosity to attract customers to stay at one of the inns at Ware, which was then a day's journey from London on horseback or by coach (22 miles). Ware, which was connected to the Thames by the river Lea, was a pretty place, famous for its swans, and had many inns by the end of the 16th century. The bed is referred to in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, first performed in 1601, and continued to be mentioned in plays, bawdy tales and by travellers. It has been known as The Great Bed of Ware since at least 1609 when it was mentioned in a play by Ben Jonson.. Stunning Photo Gifts From V&A Images

Copyright © V and A 2009 - All Rights Reserved

Watermarking and Website Address do not appear on finished products

You may also be interested in these collections
Similar Colours
V&A Images :: V&A Collection Highlights :: Bed of Ware