English Renaissance Beds

Tester

• English Renaissance beds almost always supported a tester, or roof, over the bed. While earlier beds often had a half tester, supported by a pair of posts at the head of the bed, by the 16th century, full tester beds had become more common. These were the ancestor of modern four-poster beds. Plain beds might not have included the posts and testers. Special "truckle" or trundle beds were also plain. According to Period Living and Traditional Homes Escapes, these beds were kept under the larger bed. Like modern foldaway beds, they were often used for guests or for younger children, then put away when not needed.

Curtains

• Most beds of the late Medieval and early Renaissance periods included curtains, hung from the tester. These curtains were usually made of heavy fabric, and served a practical purpose as well as an ornamental one. Bed curtains reduced drafts and kept sleepers warm even on cold winter nights without a fire. According to Old & Interesting, beds and their hangings were considered valuable possessions, and were often passed down in wills.

Ropes

• The majority of 16th century English beds were supported by ropes, rather than by slats or a flat panel. Ropes provided a similar flexibility to that of modern metal springs, though they tended to sag in the center unless regularly tightened. Most rope beds had mattress supports made up of criss-crossed ropes strung through holes in the slats. They were kept taut with a bed key, a wooden device that pulled the ropes tighter than the occupant could pull them by hand.

Decoration

• Renaissance English beds were made from solid wood, usually oak or another dense, long-lasting material. Since veneer and other surface treatments were uncommon, these beds could be richly carved with flowers, foliage and even portraits. Some extremely rich examples, such as the Great Bed of Ware, are covered almost entirely with carvings. However, according to the Victoria and Albert Museum, most beds had carvings only on the front posts and other highly visible areas.