AboutFred Taylor Expertise I will attempt to answer questions about American antique furniture, including construction details, style, period, manufacturers, care, repair and storage. I do not have any background in appliances, musical instruments, sewing machines, lighting and clocks and will not respond to quesions about those items.
Experience I ran an antique furniture restoration business for twenty years. I am a nationally syndicated columnist on the subject of antique furniture for such publications as Antique Week and New England Antiques Journal. I have produced one video on the subject of furniture identification and my book "HOW TO BE A FURNITURE DETECTIVE" is now available.I have also published articles in Antique Trader, Chicago Art Deco Society, Northeast Magazine, Victorian Decorating and Lifestyles, Professional Refinishing, Antiques and Art Around Florida and Antique Shoppe. You can visit my website at www.furnituredetective.com
Education/Credentials BSBA Finance, University of Florida, MBA Finance, University of Florida
Expert: Fred Taylor Date: 5/26/2008 Subject: Genny Lynn Full size spool Bed
Question My mother is passing down this bed to me . Stating it has value . 1800's brought over from Germany Black Cherry spool bed .In perfect mint condition . To put it together it fits like a puzzle no nails or hardware .
Answer Amy - The so called Jenny Lind bed was named after the Swedish soprano opera singer who came to America in the mid 19th century for tours. She had a spool bed and the style became known as the "Jenny Lind" bed. However, most beds called Jenny Lind today are not true copies. They have rounded corners on the headboard and foot board. The original Jenny Lind was a spool type bed but it had square corners.
I am not aware that the spool bed was ever made in Germany. It is primarily an American item because of the power driven lathe machinery used to make it and the multiple bit cutter developed for that use. Germany did not have that capability until very late in the century.
Most spool beds do not have a great deal of collector's value since they are all machine made by definition.
