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: 6/12/2008 Subject: need help identifying turned walnut bed
Question I have the posts, some rails and the slats from an old turned walnut bed that has been in the family for some time. Somewhere along the way the pieces between the head end posts were lost. Since the rest of the bed is in good shape I'd like to make new parts. Before I can make that attempt I'd like to know more about this bed and what the original might have looked like. Will send pictures to your address above.
Answer Jim - I got the photos. I will get back to you.
Fred
Jim - Thanks for the great set of photos. Your bed was made in that amorphous period between Federal/Empire and Rococo Revival - 1830-1850. The style still reflects a little bit of Federal, especially in the shape of the headboard (as you will see) but it falls in the general category of "cannonball bed." I believe the bed is made of mahogany, not walnut. The grain is too fine in the closeups you provided. Remember mahogany turns brown as it ages and air dried walnut turns redder. At some point they cross and become almost identical in color, differentiated only by the grain pattern.
I have worked on many beds like this and have replaced many an implanted nut in a siderail. I have even made new siderails with implanted nuts to match old headboards using only a backsaw, a chisel and a brace and spoon bit. The place for the nut should have a square plug in it that holds the nut in place and provides a stop for the square hand made nut so that it doesn't rotate in the slot.
Here is a site that shows a series of cannonball beds from 1830-1850 with a variety of headboards. Since there was no specific shape in the period I suggest you cruise this and other pages and find a shape you are comfortable with.
https://www.leonardsdirect.com/Antique-Beds/188
Remember this is a simple,probably handmade bed so don't get too fancy with the headboard.
I wish you the best of luck. If I can be of any help at all please let me know.
