Wrought Iron Beds: Fashion Icons
Not unlike a signature Chanel tweed jacket, wrought iron beds maintain a timeless quality that suits a variety of décor, homes, and personal tastes.
Craftsmanship is at the heart of their design. Longevity and sustainability are intrinsically linked to their creation. Shapes and styles have been informed by different historical periods and art movements, from Victorian to Edwardian, Art Nouveau to Art Deco, establishing the wrought iron bed’s permanence as an eternal interiors fashion icon.
Pre-dating divans as we know them today, the popularity of wrought iron beds prospered during the Victorian period, but the first metal beds originated as far back as Ancient Egypt. Their intricately carved designs acted as a symbol of wealth and luxury.
Until the end of World War I, at the beginning of commercialisation of metal bed making, they were handmade by small foundries, replacing wooden four poster beds thanks to their sleeker design and cleanliness properties. They utilised time-honoured techniques, including hand-polishing, hand-casting, hand-pouring, and hand-finishing, to create unique frames.
In 1851, a highly decorative Renaissance-inspired iron bed was even displayed at the Great Exhibition; the exposition’s legacy cementing the importance of handcrafted art, design, and interiors.
With the popularisation of Art Nouveau at the end of the 19th century, floral features, scrolls, and mother of pearl or porcelain detailing became popular. Classic spherical and urn-like finials were introduced onto bed posts. Soon enough, the emerging Art Deco movement saw Edwardians embrace geometry, straight lines, and angular shapes.
These styles still inform wrought iron bed design today, as seen through our hand-turned authentic brass details.
