Brass bed
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brass beds are beds in which the headboard and footboard are made of brass; the frame rails are usually made of steel. Brass beds can be made of 100 per cent brass or of metals that have been brass plated. The brass used in making brass beds is usually 70 per cent copper and 30 per cent zinc; however, the ratio of metals varies between manufacturers.
In the 1800s, having a brass bed was a status symbol and sign of wealth. The prestige and popularity of brass beds grew during the 19th and 20th centuries to the point where sales surpassed those of wooden beds. Because of their timeliness and range of styles, brass beds are the beds of choice for people renovating historic homes.
Brass beds were originally simple and plain. Throughout the centuries, designs have become increasingly elaborate and can contain extensive ornamentation such as porcelin finials. Brass bed styles include tradtional, art deco, Victorian, transitional, and Edwardian.
The oldest continuously producting brass bed maker in the United States is the Charles P. Rogers company in New York City. They have designed and made the Charles P. Rogers brass and iron bed line since 1855. It has been estimated that 75% of all the beds that the Charles P. Rogers company have ever made are still in daily use. Manufacturing techniques have changed through the generations as more sophisticated and powerful machines have replaced some of the hand labor, but the new finished product will rarely end up in a landfill.
