beds-msg - 2/20/08
Medieval and SCA beds. Rope and slat beds. Various mattresses.
NOTE: See also the files: brooms-msg, furniture-msg, chairs-msg, decor-sources-msg, candles-msg, candlesticks-msg.
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Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
From: bdorion at sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Brian Dorion)
Subject: Four Poster Beds
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1993 19:28:22 GMT
<KGORMAN at ARTSPAS.watstar.uwaterloo.ca> wrote:
> NIELSEN at falcon.mayo.EDU writes:
>>Speaking of Rialto Party, I am still working on plans to make my pavilion
>>even more decadent. Umm, does anyone by any chance have plans or ideas on
>>how to make a four-poster bed that breaks down totally and stores fairly
>>small-ly? I've got some ideas, but since all my wood-working skills have
>>been learned on the fly (and a very small fly it was, too), I'm not sure
>>what would work and what wouldn't.
>
>How bout a rope bed with high ends? I don't know how to make one but Konrad
>has one.
The rope bed that I have was made by someone else as a platform bed. I
used as such for a year, but when the van went, I could no longer haul a
4' x 6' sheet of plywood around so I turned it into a rope bed. The
article in the TI is a good starting point for building a rope bed. My
bed differs a bit in that the joints are pinned together with wooden
dowels. The legs are made of 4x4. The ones at the head of the bed are
about 3 feet high and the ones at the foot are about 2 foot high. The
sides of the bed are 2" x 6" boards with holes drilled through the center.
The end boards are 2" x 4" with holes drilled through the center. The
wood work on my bed is all pretty rough, it's not finished at all. If you
pavillion is large enough you could put legs on your bed that would extend
two to four feet above the mattress and hang misquito netting or
drapperies from the top. You could run a rope or use two by two to frame
the top of the bed.
I transport my bed with a roof rack on a K-car. The longest board is six
foot. I am looking at getting a 2-3" futon made to put on the bed. It
should be fairly portable and would make the bed pretty decadent.
Konrad Matthias Jaeger
P.S. Do you have three other posters in mind to share the bed with?
From: meg at tinhat.stonemarche.org (meg)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re:Sleeping at Pennsic (was newbie)
Date: Wed, 18 May 94 09:43:01 EDT
Organization: Stonemarche Network Co-op
Megan here.
I sleep on a bed. Well, actually, IN a bed, a shutbed to be precise. It
is period in appearance, if not in material. The mattress is a foam
mattress with eggcrate overlay for extra softness. I cover it with a
white bedsheet, several warm blankets of handspun handwoven wool, and
overall a brocaide cloth. My pillow is a feather pillow. I have a window
on my right which opens out and up as a shutter. When I am lucky, Ellisif
plays her gentle dulcimer beneath my window as I wake. When I am unlucky,
some *6x$%&(&x:+$^!!! scot plays wretched bagpipes. (well, actually this
only happened once. After what I said to him, I doubt if he'll ever return!)
ON the left I have a curtain which is attached to rings that slide on a
dowel to close off the 3 foot opening to my bed.At night I close these
curtains, and enjoy the warmth of my cosy bed. It also keeps out the flies.
Above my bed is a storage loft. I used to have a young apprentice who
slept up there. Beneath my bed is another storage area, curtained off so
you can't see the refrigerator where I hide my medications...
Also, in the bed compartment are shelves. The ones you can see from
outside the compartment have period looking containers on them, which
hold mundane necessities. The ones you can't see have the bug spray, the
matches, the alarm clock, the emergency flashlight. I also hang my hat on
a peg on the wall above my feet.
OUtside my bed, hanging on the wall, I keep an orinale, like any sensible
person.
G'night all!
BTW, when it rains really hard, I close my window and go back to sleep.
Megan
==
In 1994: Linda Anfuso
In the Current Middle Ages: Megan ni Laine de Belle Rive
In the SCA, Inc: sustaining member # 33644
YYY YYY
meg at tinhat.stonemarche.org | YYYYY |
|____n____|
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
From: davis.jim at epamail.epa.gov (Jim Davis)
Subject: Re: Sleeping at Pennsic (was newbie)
Date: Fri, 20 May 1994 15:30:13 GMT
Organization: I don't think so.
In article <1994May18.170454.13682 at ns.network.com> mercese at zrp.network.com (Steve E. Mercer) writes:
>Some gentles have recently told me that rope beds are historically accurate
>sleeping accomodations. Others have stated that rope beds are an entirely
>modern creation. Does anyone have any documentation which demonstrates that
>rope-mattress beds were used during the SCA time period?
Rope beds certainly are period. I suggest you get a copy of:
Eames, Penelope. Furniture in England, France, and The Netherlands from the
Twelfth to the Fifteenth Century. London:The Furniture History Society, 1977.
While there are no surviving rope beds (and thus no pictures), if I recall
correctly, Eames lists several from period inventories. -RdG
>-Justin Silvanus
>-Barony of Nordskogen, Middle Kingdom
Richard du Guesclin, Elvegast, Windmaster's Hill, Atlantia
davis.jim at epamail.epa.gov
From: meg at tinhat.stonemarche.org (meg)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Sleeping at Pennsic (was newbie)
Date: Wed, 25 May 94 23:42:21 EDT
Organization: Stonemarche Network Co-op
davis.jim at epamail.epa.gov (Jim Davis) writes:
> In article <1994May18.170454.13682 at ns.network.com> mercese at zrp.network.com (S
>
> >Some gentles have recently told me that rope beds are historically accurate
> >sleeping accomodations. Others have stated that rope beds are an entirely
> >modern creation. Does anyone have any documentation which demonstrates that
> >rope-mattress beds were used during the SCA time period?
>
> Rope beds certainly are period. I suggest you get a copy of:
>
> Eames, Penelope. Furniture in England, France, and The Netherlands from the
> Twelfth to the Fifteenth Century. London:The Furniture History Society, 1977.
>
> While there are no surviving rope beds (and thus no pictures), if I recall
> correctly, Eames lists several from period inventories. -RdG
>
> >-Justin Silvanus
> >-Barony of Nordskogen, Middle Kingdom
>
> Richard du Guesclin, Elvegast, Windmaster's Hill, Atlantia
> davis.jim at epamail.epa.gov
Megan here...
there are paintings of rope beds from the Renaissance in "Italian
Interiors of the Renaissance".
==
In 1994: Linda Anfuso
In the Current Middle Ages: Megan ni Laine de Belle Rive
In the SCA, Inc: sustaining member # 33644
YYY YYY
meg at tinhat.stonemarche.org | YYYYY |
|____n____|
From: hrjones at uclink.berkeley.edu (Heather Rose Jones)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Sleeping at Pennsic (was newbie)
Date: 26 May 1994 07:18:43 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
>davis.jim at epamail.epa.gov (Jim Davis) writes:
>> Rope beds certainly are period. I suggest you get a copy of:
>>
>> Eames, Penelope. Furniture in England, France, and The Netherlands from the
>> Twelfth to the Fifteenth Century. London:The Furniture History Society, 1977.
>>
>> While there are no surviving rope beds (and thus no pictures), if I recall
There is a surviving rope bed dated to 1620 at -- I believe -- the Museum
of London. (At least it was there back in 1981. I have sketches that I made
of it but didn't note clearly which museum I was in at the time.) It's very
plain and quite narrow; basically just four square posts and the rails that
hold the lacing, plus two braces around floor level between the pairs of
posts at head and foot.
Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
From: hrjones at uclink.berkeley.edu (Heather Rose Jones)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Sleeping at Pennsic (was newbie)
Date: 23 May 1994 08:10:59 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Steve E. Mercer <mercese at zrp.network.com> wrote:
>
>Some gentles have recently told me that rope beds are historically accurate
>sleeping accomodations. Others have stated that rope beds are an entirely
>modern creation. Does anyone have any documentation which demonstrates that
>rope-mattress beds were used during the SCA time period?
>
>-Justin Silvanus
The earliest extant example of a rope bed that I've seen was dated 1620 --
not quite in period, but certainly within a reasonable margin of error.
(I believe this example was in the British Museum -- my notes and sketches
are from over a decade ago and aren't entirely clear on that point; it
might instead have been the Museum of London.) It's quite simple, with
a plain square post at each corner, flush at the top with the side rails,
and with a brace just above floor level between the pairs of posts at
head and foot. The plainness of the design and lack of ornamentation
suggest that this was not some curious innovation, but more likely a
traditional middle or possibly even lower class artifact.
I haven't been able to find examples in art on a cursory search, but if
the rope bed were, in fact, a middle-class style, it would be less likely
to be represented there and would probably need a more in depth search to
turn up examples.
Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
From: jab2 at stl.stc.co.uk (Jennifer Ann Bray)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Sleeping at Pennsic (was newbie)
Date: 25 May 94 13:46:48
Organization: STC Technology Ltd., London Road, Harlow, UK.
>Some gentles have recently told me that rope beds are historically accurate
>sleeping accomodations. Others have stated that rope beds are an entirely
>modern creation. Does anyone have any documentation which demonstrates that
>rope-mattress beds were used during the SCA time period?
The Victoria and Albert museum in London has the great bed of Ware.
this is a large four poster bed which was mentioned by Shakespear, so
it was around and in use then.
The bed has turned and carved posts, a carved back, and a very sturdy
wooden frame. The original ropes have gone, and the bed is on display
without any bedding, but it still looked pretty impressive to me.
The Oseberg and Gokstad ship burials (8th and tenth centurys
respectively) both had wooden bed frames. These were not four posters
but had head posts carved with animal heads, and plainer foot posts.
I believe these beds originall had wooden slats for the bases, if
anyone is seriously interested I have a copy of the original
archaeologists write up on the Gokstad ship (It's called something
like "The Viking Ship discovered at Gokstad" and it's by N.
Nicolaysem. It was publisged by Alb Cammermeyer & the date was
something like 1882, I'd have to check that up to be sure). If anyone
wants any more info I can look it up for them. email me at:
J.A.Bray at bnr.co.uk
but you'll have to write soon because that account is due to be
disabled on June 24th when I move jobs.
On a different topic can anyone tell me how to subscribe to the digest
version of the Rialto?
Jennifer/Rannveik
Vanaheim Vikings
From: mordraut at bga.com (Mordraut Freyulf)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Rope Bed (was Sleeping at Pennsic )
Date: 26 May 1994 15:18:40 GMT
Organization: Real/Time Communications - Bob Gustwick and Associates
Nils Hammer (nh0g+ at andrew.cmu.edu) wrote:
: When I went to a museum of the Atocha wreck (1622?) I saw a wooden
: fragment that was believed to be from a bedframe. The hole spacing was
: approx. 2" then 4" repeated. This suggests to me that it was actually a
: strap bed.
: I would like to know if anyone has a way for a rope bed to breakdown for
: travel without needing to re-thread the ropes. I have given it some thought
: based on the folding army cot, but I am not yet satisfied.
Instead of using a rope bed, I have a breakdown slat bed, based on Norse
design. I use seven slats to support 1/4" plywood, and then add
padding. The overall size for the bedding is queensize, and I've had no
problems.
--
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Mordraut Freyulf | So what is a 13th Century Mongol doing | Dark Horde |
| mordraut at bga.com | Riding down the Information Superhighway | Moritu |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
From: s_rodger at acad.lvc.edu (Scott Rodgers)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Rope Bed (was Sleeping at Pennsic )
Date: 26 May 1994 21:34 CDT
Organization: Texas A&M University OpenVMScluster
In article <2s2ekg$9gj at giga.bga.com>, mordraut at bga.com (Mordraut Freyulf)
writes...
>Nils Hammer (nh0g+ at andrew.cmu.edu) wrote:
>: When I went to a museum of the Atocha wreck (1622?) I saw a wooden
*snip*
>
>: I would like to know if anyone has a way for a rope bed to breakdown for
>: travel without needing to re-thread the ropes. I have given it some thought
>: based on the folding army cot, but I am not yet satisfied.
>
*snip*
While i was helping some friends set up their camp for the texas ren festival
i noticed that they were using a rope bed. The first i'd ever seen, but this
was going to be where they slept every weekend for quite a few months.
The headboard, and sideboards all had slots in them so that you could slide
the rope down into the slot. The rope itself was weeved in such a manner very
much like a hammock, or fishing net. After this was done they used some sturdy
thread to tie around each point of connection. This way they could simply
pull the ropes up off of the framework, and roll it up like a carpet.
The legs had grooves in them for the boards to slide down into, and pegholes
to secure the boards into the legs. For breaking it down you just had to pull
the pegs and lift the boards out. The longest piece was 6ft long, but you
could always use tongue and groove construction to split them into 3 foot
pieces.
I especially liked their bed because it used to nails at all. Occasionally
they would have to untie the ends of the rope to take in the slack, since
rope stretches. However the ties they used at the joins allowed the rope to
play through them easily.
If i had an encampment to begin with, i think i might make a rope bed just
for the fun of doing it.
Humbly,
Scott Rodgers (mundane but working on it)
From: ddfr at aol.com (DDFr)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Rope Bed (was Sleeping at Pennsic )
Date: 26 May 1994 22:49:03 -0400
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
Nils Hammer asks:
"I would like to know if anyone has a way for a rope bed to breakdown for
travel without needing to re-thread the ropes."
Yes. The frame is 2x4's. At each corner, one of them is cut down to
about 1 1/2 x 2 and fits through a 1 1/2 x 2 hole in the other. The
tension of the ropes holds the whole thing together very tightly--no
pegs necessary. To disassemble, you loosen the ropes enough so that
you can pull the frame apart, then lay all four frame pieces parallel
and together, with the rope still threaded. Tightening when you set
up is still a pain, but I haven't relaced in years.
David/Cariadoc
From: kathy.duffy at buckys.com (Kathy Duffy)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Sleeping at Pennsic (was newbie)
Date: Sun, 22 May 1994 20:35:00 GMT
Organization: Bucky's BBS (609)861-1131 * Dennisville, NJ
M>Some gentles have recently told me that rope beds are historically accurate
>sleeping accomodations. Others have stated that rope beds are an entirely
>modern creation. Does anyone have any documentation which demonstrates that
>rope-mattress beds were used during the SCA time period?
The Bed of Ware in the British Museum was a rope bed and was famous
during the Tudor period. It is immense even by modern standards.
From: Lassman at BldgDafoe.Lan1.UManitoba.CA (Linda Lassman)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Sleeping at Pennsic
Date: Wed, 25 May 1994 23:34:56 GMT
Organization: University of Manitoba
A number of years ago there was an article in TI about period rope beds,
with instructions on how to make one. The instructions were clear enough
that even I, The Compleat Non-Woodworker, successfully make one.
It's still doing good service (although not to me) :-)
- Gabriela dei Clementini
Barony of Castel Rouge, Midrealm
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: rope beds
From: schuldy at zariski.harvard.edu (Mark Schuldenfrei)
Date: 26 May 94 10:53:14 EDT
Organization: My own little corner.
ALBAN at delphi.COM writes:
i tried using a rope bed for a while at pennsic and various
other camping events. i switched eventually to a slat bed.
trouble i found with rope beds is that the bloody rope
kept stretching, which means i'd have to tighten it
every couple of days, which gets to be a nuisance.
My friend Harald Longfellow made an excellent suggestion as he helped me
make my bed. We made a large number of wedges, by cutting 2 x 4 boards
diagonally. When the bed rope stretches a little, drive a wedge between the
loops of rope around the outside of the bed, and the frame. Tightens right
up.
I have found that the ropes ease a good bit for a few hours after the bed is
first assembled. A good tightening after that is useful. Following that, a
few wedges the first night, and perhaps one or two more the following days,
will do.
Tibor
--
Mark Schuldenfrei (schuldy at math.harvard.edu)