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Empire Four Poster Bed

Antique Queen-Size Carved Four-Poster American Empire Bed, Philadelphia, c 1825
Antique Queen-Size Carved Four-Poster American Empire Bed, Philadelphia, c 1825

Antique Queen-Size Carved Four-Poster American Empire Bed, Philadelphia, c 1825

Located in INTERLAKEN, NY

An extraordinary American empire four-poster bed in cherry wood from the Philadelphia area that

Category

Antique 1820s American Empire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Cherry, Poplar

American Empire Mahogany Four-Poster Bed
American Empire Mahogany Four-Poster Bed

American Empire Mahogany Four-Poster Bed

$5,500

H 54 in W 76 in D 43 in

American Empire Mahogany Four-Poster Bed

Located in Queens, NY

American Empire-style (Probably 19th Century) mahogany four poster twin size bed with acorn finials

Category

Antique 19th Century American American Empire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Mahogany

American Mahogany Classical Acanthus Carved Four Poster Tester Bed.  Circa 1815
American Mahogany Classical Acanthus Carved Four Poster Tester Bed.  Circa 1815

American Mahogany Classical Acanthus Carved Four Poster Tester Bed. Circa 1815

By Anthony Gabriel Quervelle

Located in Charleston, SC

American mahogany Classical carved four poster bed with molded edge tester, flanking swan necks

Category

Antique 1810s American American Empire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Brass

Recent Sales

Brass Four Poster Bed c.1831-1836 by R W Winfield for Prince of Ottoman Empire
Brass Four Poster Bed c.1831-1836 by R W Winfield for Prince of Ottoman Empire

Brass Four Poster Bed c.1831-1836 by R W Winfield for Prince of Ottoman Empire

By R. W. Winfield & Co.

Located in Wrexham, GB

An important museum quality brass four poster bed made by R W Winfield circa 1831 to 1836 as a

Category

Antique 1830s British William IV Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Brass, Iron

Mid-19th Century Empire Style Mahogany Four Poster Single Bed
Mid-19th Century Empire Style Mahogany Four Poster Single Bed

Mid-19th Century Empire Style Mahogany Four Poster Single Bed

Located in Tarry Town, NY

Mid-19th century empire style mahogany wood four poster single bed with hand carved design details

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century North American Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Mahogany

American Empire Four Poster Bed with Acanthus Carvings, circa 1820
American Empire Four Poster Bed with Acanthus Carvings, circa 1820

American Empire Four Poster Bed with Acanthus Carvings, circa 1820

Located in INTERLAKEN, NY

A very finely carved American Empire four poster bed. At the top of each post is a carved pineapple

Category

Antique Early 19th Century American American Empire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Mahogany, Poplar, Hardwood

American Four Poster "Field" Bed w/ Arched Canopy, Carved & Turned Posts, c 1815
American Four Poster "Field" Bed w/ Arched Canopy, Carved & Turned Posts, c 1815

American Four Poster "Field" Bed w/ Arched Canopy, Carved & Turned Posts, c 1815

Located in INTERLAKEN, NY

. The bed's headboard has two downward scrolls, with four vase-and-ring turned posts; with the two foot

Category

Antique Early 19th Century American American Empire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Maple

English Four-Poster Painted Tester Bed, circa 1880
English Four-Poster Painted Tester Bed, circa 1880

English Four-Poster Painted Tester Bed, circa 1880

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This late 19th century painted English tester bed with distressed finish features four carved

Category

Antique 1880s American Empire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Linen, Upholstery, Wood

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Art Deco Sofa by Munna Design Studio with Velvet Upholstery
Art Deco Sofa by Munna Design Studio with Velvet Upholstery

Art Deco Sofa by Munna Design Studio with Velvet Upholstery

$15,439 / item

H 32.68 in W 110.24 in D 40.56 in

Art Deco Sofa by Munna Design Studio with Velvet Upholstery

By Munna Design Studio

Located in NEW YORK, NY

This sofa features a wonderfully elegant fan-shaped motif, with its accentuated curvy lines with decadent and lavish finish. The feminine curves are ravishingly enhanced by the diffe...

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21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas

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19th Century Walnut Pair of Bookcases Boiserie de Bibliothèque
19th Century Walnut Pair of Bookcases Boiserie de Bibliothèque

19th Century Walnut Pair of Bookcases Boiserie de Bibliothèque

Located in Vosselaar, BE

A rare pair of heliocodal French Directoire library bookcases in solid walnut. This type of bookcases is also known as 'boiseries de Bibliothèque' as they often, together with pannel...

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Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Bookcases

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Walnut

Custom Made Modern English Arm Sofa in Performance Linen Velvet - 86"
Custom Made Modern English Arm Sofa in Performance Linen Velvet - 86"

Custom Made Modern English Arm Sofa in Performance Linen Velvet - 86"

By Bloom Home Inc

Located in Old Town Orange, CA

This beautiful english arm sofa has a modern twist, with its single bench cushion, and beautiful curved apron sides. It’s upholstered in a Linen Velvet Performance fabric. Shown in...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Sofas

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Erhard & Sohne Art Nouveau Jugendstil Arts and Crafts Jewelry Box Casket c. 1905
Erhard & Sohne Art Nouveau Jugendstil Arts and Crafts Jewelry Box Casket c. 1905

Erhard & Sohne Art Nouveau Jugendstil Arts and Crafts Jewelry Box Casket c. 1905

By Erhard & Söhne

Located in London, GB

A beautiful art nouveau casket made by Erhard and Sohne in Germany in c. 1905. The casket is exquisitely executed with foliate detailing, made in the Gothic revival style in both p...

Category

Early 20th Century German Art Nouveau Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Tiffany Studios Bronze Desk Lamp on Circular Fluted Base, New York. Circa 1920
Tiffany Studios Bronze Desk Lamp on Circular Fluted Base, New York. Circa 1920

Tiffany Studios Bronze Desk Lamp on Circular Fluted Base, New York. Circa 1920

By Tiffany Studios

Located in Charleston, SC

Tiffany Studios bronze desk lamp with original iridescent shade, scrolled bulbous harp, and resting on circular fluted base with the original five ball feet. Shade is etched LCT on r...

Category

Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Table Lamps

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Bed frame. Carved and turned wood. 20th century, following ancient models.
Bed frame. Carved and turned wood. 20th century, following ancient models.

Bed frame. Carved and turned wood. 20th century, following ancient models.

Located in Madrid, ES

Bed frame. Carved and turned wood. 20th century, following ancient models. Bed frame composed of a headboard and footboard made of carved and turned wood called mogno, creating arc...

Category

20th Century European Other Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Other

Orientale

Henri Fantin-LatourOrientale, 1899

$28,750

H 16 in W 13.5 in

Orientale

By Henri Fantin-Latour

Located in New York, NY

Signed, lower right: Fantin Provenance: Gustave Tempelaere (1840–1904), Paris; possibly by descent to his son: Julien Tempelaere (1876–1961) and with F. & J. Tempelaere, Paris, prob...

Category

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Materials

Canvas, Paper, Oil

Pair of 'Japonsime' Blue Porcelain Vases Mounted as Lamps
Pair of 'Japonsime' Blue Porcelain Vases Mounted as Lamps

Pair of 'Japonsime' Blue Porcelain Vases Mounted as Lamps

By Ferdinand Barbedienne

Located in Brighton, West Sussex

A Pair Of 'Japonsime' Gilt-Bronze-Mounted Powder-Blue Porcelain Vases, Mounted As Lamps. By Ferdinand Barbedienne, Paris. Each with a square shaped body. The sides decorated with ...

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Antique English Mahogany Chippendale Breakfront Bookcase, Circa 1890.
Antique English Mahogany Chippendale Breakfront Bookcase, Circa 1890.

Antique English Mahogany Chippendale Breakfront Bookcase, Circa 1890.

Located in New Orleans, LA

Antique English mahogany Chippendale breakfront bookcase, circa 1890.

Category

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Portrait of Lady Caroline Price
Portrait of Lady Caroline Price

Portrait of Lady Caroline Price

By George Romney

Located in Miami, FL

DESCRIPTION: Perhaps the best Romney in private hands. If Vogue Magazine existed in the late 18th century, this image of Lady Caroline Price would be on one of its covers. The e...

Category

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A beautiful Celestial Table Globe produced by Gerard & Leonard Valk
A beautiful Celestial Table Globe produced by Gerard & Leonard Valk

A beautiful Celestial Table Globe produced by Gerard & Leonard Valk

By Gerard and Leonard Valk

Located in ZWIJNDRECHT, NL

A magnificent and very rare early 18th century celestial table globe produced by Gerard and Leonard Valk. Established at the end of the previous century by Gerard Valk, and assisted ...

Category

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Materials

Other

Pair of Italian Rococo Walnut Salon Sofas
Pair of Italian Rococo Walnut Salon Sofas

Pair of Italian Rococo Walnut Salon Sofas

$28,000 / set

H 48.5 in W 107 in D 29 in

Pair of Italian Rococo Walnut Salon Sofas

Located in Houston, TX

Pair of large-scale Italian Rococo salon sofas carved in walnut. Each sofa features a continuous serpentine crest rail with symmetrical rocaille carving centered by a shell motif. Sc...

Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Rococo Sofas

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Bed, 19th Century, Italian, Baroque, Carved, Painted, Gilded, Armorial Cartouche
Bed, 19th Century, Italian, Baroque, Carved, Painted, Gilded, Armorial Cartouche

Bed, 19th Century, Italian, Baroque, Carved, Painted, Gilded, Armorial Cartouche

Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK

The headboard is surmounted with a carved cresting and turned finials at each end, and the frame painted with scrollwork. The centre of the headboard has a cartouche containing a pai...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Baroque Beds and Bed Frames

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Large Conversation Settee - Canapé à confident - Sofa
Large Conversation Settee - Canapé à confident - Sofa

Large Conversation Settee - Canapé à confident - Sofa

$19,275

H 39.38 in W 116.15 in D 26.38 in

Large Conversation Settee - Canapé à confident - Sofa

Located in Paris, FR

Very unusual and large conversation settee - canapé à confident. Carved gilt-wood and velvet fabric, circa 1880.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Canapes

Materials

Velvet, Wood

Exquisite 19th Century French Daybed
Exquisite 19th Century French Daybed

Exquisite 19th Century French Daybed

$14,500

H 43 in W 78.5 in D 55.5 in

Exquisite 19th Century French Daybed

Located in Stockbridge, GA

Exquisite 19th century French daybed, Louis XV style. As the stairways of houses and apartments in France are narrow, they build furniture with the option of disassembling if needed...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Daybeds

Materials

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Large Early Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Model of a Prancing Horse, TL Tested
Large Early Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Model of a Prancing Horse, TL Tested

Large Early Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Model of a Prancing Horse, TL Tested

Located in Austin, TX

A magnificent and large early Tang dynasty (618-906 AD) model of a prancing or dancing horse, circa 7th century. The majestic animal is caught mid-motion, one leg raised, head grace...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Chinese Tang Antiquities

Materials

Pottery

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Empire Four Poster Bed For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the empire four poster bed you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, walnut and mahogany, every empire four poster bed was constructed with great care. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect empire four poster bed — we have versions that date back to the 19th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century are available. An empire four poster bed, designed in the Baroque or Empire style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. (after) Henri Matisse and Henri Matisse each produced at least one beautiful empire four poster bed that is worth considering.

Finding the Right Beds-frames for You

We find relaxation and solace in our bedrooms, which are often the most cherished rooms of a home. Your antique, new or vintage bed and bed frame are integral to this oasis of personal comfort.

Beds and bed frames have long been an important part of the sanctuary that is the bedroom. For the upper class in countries such as England, the massive, costly beds of the 16th and 17th centuries were decorative and of the poster variety. Some were characterized by large painted wooden headboards, often made of oak, that featured ornate carvings and richly colored curtains affixed to each of the two or four posts — think of today’s sumptuous upholstered headboards as a distant cousin to these luxurious furnishings. The heavy fabric curtains were drawn across a fringed canopy to close out the sunlight that might’ve warmed your grandiose and opulent bedchambers. This feature could also offer privacy as desired, because, as we all know, a bedroom is for more than just sleeping

Coiled springs didn’t make their way into mattresses until the 1800s, which likely made for a far more comfortable night’s sleep for many. Bed frames of cast iron and brass were introduced during the mid- to late-19th century. Later, the 20th century brought with it marvelous innovations for slumberland, among them daybeds from the likes of George Nelson and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich as well as convertible sofa beds.

Today, you will find a range of beds geared toward your individual personality and preferred style of decor. When shopping for a bed and bed frame, keep in mind that you’ve got options. Sizes range from twin to California king. At 76 inches wide and 80 inches long, a king-size bed is roughly 16 inches wider than a queen-size mattress, and your bed frame will likely add two to five inches to each side. (The California king bed is 84 inches long.)

From dramatic bedroom designs to uncomplicated, minimalist approaches, the bedroom has evolved into the haven that it should be: a peaceful place of respite, where we begin and end every day. Take the time to create your very own oasis — you deserve it. Rest easy with an expansive collection of antique, new and vintage beds and bed frames available on 1stDibs.

Questions About Empire Four Poster Bed
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    References show that in the 14th and 15th centuries, “four-post” was the correct terminology. However, today it is considered correct to say “four-poster”. You can find a range of vintage and antique four-poster beds from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Today, the point of a four-poster bed is largely stylistic. People place them in bedrooms due to their elegant decorative appearance. Historically, four-poster beds featured heavy curtains that blocked light, preserved privacy and provided warmth in the winter. You'll find a selection of four-poster beds on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The tester on a four poster bed is the canopy over the bed. It was usually made of wood and could be covered with cloth. It provided privacy and helped enclose the bed, making it easier to heat the bed area. On 1stDibs, find an array of vintage and contemporary four-poster beds.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A four poster bed features four posts, one at each corner. A canopy bed also has four posts, one at each corner, but a canopy bed is covered with a cloth of some sort. They can look similar except for the canopy on top. However, canopy posts are often built differently than four poster beds so they can accommodate the fabric. Shop a collection of four poster and canopy beds from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Across the top of older four-poster beds was a wooden rail that was called the tester. The tester often held a rail where curtains were attached that could be pulled closed. Shop a collection of four-poster beds from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    You can make a four-poster bed modern in a number of ways. Try refinishing it with matte spray paint or covering the headboard with fabric or wallpaper. You can also hang fabric in contemporary prints from the frame as a canopy. You'll find a collection of four-poster beds on 1stDibs.

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