An 'Elizabeth I' oak tester bed,  the oversailing thirteen f...

Hammer

£9,000

An 'Elizabeth I' oak tester bed, 
the oversailing thirteen fielded panelled tester canopy in relief with Tudor rosettes, each flower-head surrounded with a carved four leaf lozenge, bordering a central boss, the headboard well-carved with four recessed panels depicting scenes from the parable of "The Prodical Son", prominent top panel carved with winged angels above a typical Elizabethan carved arched gothic panel, flanked with carved crusader mask above grape vines and caryatid supports, the four-panelled foot board carved  with Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, the bold posts richly carved with balusters surmounted by a winged and crowned gargoyles, c.1560

Dimensions: 225cm high, 155cm wide, 220cm depth, 

Provenance: From a private collection,  previously this four poster bed was originally the property of Lady Margaret Denny, and was loaned to a museum near Linlithgow outside Edinburgh when her home was requisitioned by the war department in early 1940. It remained in the museum when the war had ended, and Lady Margaret Denny by this time was very elderly and in fact resided in a hotel, and did not move back to her home.

Upon her passing the bed was willed to her niece Miss Anne Anstruther, but remained at the museum until 1974 when Miss Anstruther decided that she had no practical use for it herself. The museum disbanded, and the bed was entrusted to T.G. Bayne of London to sell on her behalf. Selling for £4,500 in 1974. (Approximately £60,000.00 in todays money) 

Condition: The whole piece in fine original condition with the exception of a few necessary minor restorations. 19th century components.

More Information

After very close inspection of this bed, it appears to have been made from different periods, a lot of which are predominantly 16th century. However, there is a 'mish mash' of 16th century timbers through to 19th century. A bed of this age is expected to have some alterations, therefore the auction estimate reflects that.