The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
rs TO BEDS.

Nickel Frames Unpopuinr-Brass . Favor
lite MnteriaI-Beds That Cost Thousands.
There was a time when the bedstead was o
simple framework. Not SO now. Since the
medical fraternity has declared that 1t is essen
tial for man to spend one-third of his time
~sleepin. the bedstead has come to be one of the
complexities of modern life. II has developed
from n skeleton OF plain wood or iron into
n magnificent piece of furniture. ana people
choose their bedsteads with care and thought.
Nickel bcdsteads are the newest They are
seen at places where large asRortments of metal
bed frames are kept. The nickel bedstead has
proved a poor seller, for 1t is too cold in appear
ance to help to furnish a room. The average
purchaser looks at q bedstead from two view
points before buying. the utilitarian and the
ornamental, and really the latter Is often con-
sidered first. Since the bedstead is the largest
piece OF furniture in n room. 1t naturally has
important work to do in giving the room a fur
nished appearance. The nickel bed frame
almost chills one to the marrow to enter n room
on n cold day and see q great silver bedstead
staring one in the face.
"Nickel bedsteads.' said a dealer. are At
only for one t~hing-that is, to furnish summer
houses. About a year ago Italy sent an i'm
portation OF bed frames made Of German silver
to this country. and American manufacturers
got the idea Of finishing metal beds In nickel.
Silver is the coolest metal we have; SO natural
" the German silver beds were hard stock. and
90. too. those of nickel have proved. While they
are made on the models of the brass bedstead.
they have an unfinished appearance, and no
amount of twists. CURVES, and carvings can do
away with this. A bedroom used only In sum-
mer. hung in pale blue or gray paper. with mat
ting on the floor. looks very inviting on a hot
day with a nickel bedstead, but actually 1t al
-. 100 - ,lo,- a,n ,,n. TLaGa
frames vary in price from SIG to 500. but they
will never come much into vogue.
Brass is the thing to get II one Is buying a
metal bed. II l. rich ana warm in appearance.
and one does not tire OF 1t. The pattern differs
little from year TO year, but each season finds
the finish more perfect. a few years back New
York people wouldn't have a brass bed frame
that didn't come from England. Now they
prefer those made In America, for our manu-
facturers can't be excelled the world over in this
work. Compare q brass bed frame OF English
with one OF American make. and even a nom
expert can see how much more finished looking
the latter Is.
Twin beds in metal or wood are the popular
thing nowadays. The frames are as alike as
who pf pu.h le " ,o S9a / "T4 I II onc Of "S pc people pie
occupying the same bed happens to be restless
the twin bed Is a cinchi Tor ne kicker can be
the twin frame a godsend: The best brass bed
steads are not Imade, of solid brass. as is com
monty supposed. They have iron supports
running through each separate rod, and this
gives tho frame rigidlty. which is an essential
point. and also stability. Solid brass frames
give with every movements. and are easily bent;
ones are most used now. and a high head. OF
course II. like all Others. is made by hand and
has n great deal Of scroll work. Another rather
new one Is the balcony bed. The rods at the
foot curve out and remind one of the iron bars
before bank windows. This is n favorite with
49, "a mar fn- % fyiNna than tan nj DAl
we have some as high as $500. a brass frame
seldom costs more than that. It's queer how
dealers learn to read peoples character by the
bedsteads they buy. People Of refinement and
goo TASTE ger peT n to1 pi ha b brSs ssa frames - While mnse
fancy design. Then we never fail to find out
whether y 1t, 9 psr rs be5 s5 fsa an sr wi : 6sx tsn d"st tRoas
made OF brass even II the latter are hard to keep
No metal bedstead can be made so handsome
rs some wooden ones. Neither can 1t give such
an air of comfort TO q room.
There is nothing likoa mahogany bedstead
apartment declares nm authority on this sub
ject- 1T cannot be said that one wood is more
popular than another. for that Ia u matter OF
taste: but many immensely wealthy people who
are Furnishing new homes these days are, partial
made iet Of sold maloaany. WI What go could Sfy be more mma
graceful than those curved lines? 1t has yernis.
Sainted IL gold At head and foot Cu" and
the carving could hardly be surpassed.
d ahsog5RG F, tie style Il q f} Ssa.soa 1sS Suri nS1f lis 4 1Gqi'
msnyI prefer his fancy. il Is very effective in
light wood Win q cGnopy to match. lined with
brdseye maple. nrnamented with hand-carved
Garlands that look almost as II one could take
each flower of separately. While the birds
eve maple is beautiful, 1t does not compare with
Is made of the latter. and is inIaid with mother
of pearl, copper, silver, and brass. The carv-
Ing is In the style of the italian Renaissance,
and ihA nripn 10 III nm thnnuh thIG atpIa On .,
be made to cost several thousands, Frames
made OF s%atinwood, and inlaid in the same
way. are much used by swell neoplo.-
Joined At the head and foot, and yet are dis
tinct. This bedstead Is made in that style. 1t
mas been here many years, and every rich man
who furnishes II new house looks and looks at
It'll made of mahogany, and the carving on It
Is wonderful. Figures support the head, and
the panels are alive with carved Cupids. This
frame looks as II 1t might have a history, but 1t
up $1,000 for it can have H.. That's
the reason we've had II a long .while2 Non
sense! some people think nothing of paying
$4,000 Tor n hedstead. I'll show you one nj
that price now. and there is not a handsomer
one In this city. II is n Louis XIV. frame. made
OF cherry wood enanelled. The. panel at the
head Is painted with II Cupid design, and the
The heRdbonrd underneath the panel IL uphol-
Stored and tufted in pink brocade damask,
which harmonizes with the painting above.
America excels in making magnificent bed
steads, Many people who have an idea that
everything can be made better and more beau
tifnl on the other side than AT home can hardly
nelleNe IL wheh they learn that all OF these bed
frames are made right in this city, Hundreds
Of men are kept busy doing the carving, paint
ing aud inl@lld work that are now predVIp mat
lug featured"