Hello AT,
Does anyone know where I can find carved beds such as these???
For the past 3 years, I have been searching high and low for them -- in antique and junk shops, Toronto's Little India, many, many online searches...all to no avail. I have even contacted the owner of these 2 beds, Suzanne Sharp of the Rug Company, who shared with me that she bought them over 20 years ago on Portobello Road....
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The need to find these beds is becoming urgent: babe #2 is due in a few short weeks, and babe #1 is ready to be moved into a big-girl bed -- so it is now or never. These beds just seem to be the sort that "dreams are made of", and fit with everything else in our daughter's room.
Their resemblance to the Taj Mahal make me think that they are Indian, but I don't know for sure. I would love to find at least one of these beds, and ideally, two.
Can anyone help me?
Thanks!
Monika
Monika,
While they may look Indian in theme, they are most likely English fantasies of the East. And if Suzanne Sharp found them that long ago on Portobello Road, there is very little chance of finding them again. But you never know....
What you could do here however is make your own headboard for a simple children's white wood bedframe. The curves could easily be cut and the finials could easily be matched from any good building supply. This would be a nice project for the right person.
Anyone else????
yes I would just take that picture to good carpenter or joinery place and ask them if they could replicate. I'm sure it would be easy-peasy. And cheaper too to be honest.
Well, if they're to painted white anyway, then I might suggest that you find a pair of beds (of ANY color) whose headboards could be adapted or added to, and then only have the onion-dome shaped parts cut out of 2 sheets of MDF, and buy 6 finials that are identical to each other, and use THEM to create this look.
THEN... prime and paint the whole shebang and you're all set.
- Curtis
Monika,
Although not the same, Maine Cottage has a great line of painted beds that are wonderful for kids.
I agree with Curtis - I have seem some pretty inexpensive "arabesque" finials around - by buying a second hand headboard (or two) creating a sweep, and adding 3 finials you could achieve something similar. I have just done a headbaord for my little girl and adding finials really finished it off.
Monika, have you tried Chatelet? (at 717 Queen St. W. at Bathurst)
Have you tried Nestings Kids? (at 418 Eglinton Ave. W.)
If they don't have what you're looking for, they might know where to go. Also try the aberfoyle antiques just outside of Guelph.
Thanks for the suggestions, unfortunately, this photo has been reproduced too small to do the beds justice -- the carving detail has been lost in the image, when in reality it is quite extensive and intricate. It is the carving, not just the shape, that makes these beds special -- they are authentic ethnic furniture, not knock-offs. Unfortunately, no carpenter could replicate these beds -- at least, not here in North America.
I was hoping that someone could point me to a store that specializes in vintage Indian furniture or an internet source for Indian furniture (even some good search terms for Google...anybody???
Maxwell -
I have studied the carving on the beds quite intently, and it looks authentically Indian, and not English. There are a number of details that look Indian as opposed to English -- the type of wood used, the way it was handled and carved, the patterning, etc. I suppose that it might be possible these beds were made for the English market in India, although my understanding of colonial furniture of that period is quite different (although the Victorians were notorious for bringing home exotic -albeit not quite authentic - souvenirs from their travels, so it is possible).
Besides, our banker, from India, told us that she has seen similar beds to these before (she just didn't know where to look for them short of taking a trip to India!).
Monika - If you're in Toronto, why don't you try little India (Gerrard & Pape I think) and try the antique shops around King East & Sherbourne and up & down Parliament street.
Yay, Toronto residents respond!
Unfortunately, I can't contribute anything useful :)
this company has some pretty interesting (pricy) kids beds, some of which seem similar...check it out. nadine
http://www.poshtots.com/catalog/12/category.asp
and what about the Petaluma line at PB Kids?
http://ww2.potterybarnkids.com/cat/pip.cfm?src=shpak%7Ccfrnbtr%7Cda%7Crshop%5Fk&pkey=cfrnbtr%7Cak&gids=fd5000
no intricate carvings... but you get the general look.