What is the difference between a canopy bed and a four poster bed?

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.

Is it a four-post bed or four-poster bed?

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.

What is the point of a four-poster bed?

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.

What is a tester on a four poster bed?

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.

What is the top of a four-poster bed called?

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.

How do I make a four-poster bed modern?

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.

Gold Poster Bed

19th Century Canopy Bed

King Canopy

Super King Size Bed Frame

Four Post King Bed

Flame Mahogany Headboard

Tester Bed

Bed Cornice

Cast Iron Canopy Bed

Category

Mid-20th Century British Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood

Hand Made White & Gold Painted Carved Wooden Four Poster Bed

$6,471

H 94.1 in W 83.86 in D 63.98 in

Recent Sales

Stardust Four Poster Bed with Gold Frame by Busnelli

By Busnelli

Located in New York, NY

Stardust is a collection of products in which the bed and the four poster bed play a main role

Category

2010s Italian Modern Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Metal

Stardust Four Poster Bed with Gold Frame by Busnelli

H 82.68 in W 78.75 in D 85.04 in

Casablanca Poster King Bed with Gold Leaf Frame by Innova Luxuxy Group

By Innova Luxury Group

Located in Los Angeles, CA

The epitome of true sophistication and elegance, the hand-gilded Casablanca poster bed effortlessly

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Modern Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Gold Leaf

Casablanca Poster King Bed with Gold Leaf Frame by Innova Luxuxy Group

H 98 in W 89 in D 93 in

Casablanca Poster Queen Bed with Gold Leaf Frame by Innova Luxuxy Group

By Innova Luxury Group

Located in Los Angeles, CA

The epitome of true sophistication and elegance, the hand-gilded Casablanca poster bed effortlessly

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Modern Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Gold Leaf

Casablanca Poster Queen Bed with Gold Leaf Frame by Innova Luxuxy Group

H 98 in W 73 in D 93 in

Arabian Nights Bed Featuring Four Posters And Gold Leaf Detailing

Located in NEW YORK, NY

A stunning, handcrafted four-poster bed in leather and gold leaf detailing. Finished in ebony

Category

2010s Regency Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Gold Leaf

Arabian Nights Bed Featuring Four Posters And Gold Leaf Detailing

H 90.5 in W 84 in L 90.5 in

Vintage Neoclassical Modern Gold Leaf King Size Poster Bed Lattice Tester Canopy

Located in Dayton, OH

ribboned posts with acorn finials. The Canopy or Tester can be removed to be used as a poster bed

Category

Late 20th Century Neoclassical Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Iron, Gold Leaf

Vintage Neoclassical Modern Gold Leaf King Size Poster Bed Lattice Tester Canopy

H 93 in W 85 in D 79 in

King-Size Bronze Two Poster Headboard with Caned Panels

By John Stuart Inc., John Widdicomb

Located in Hanover, MA

King-size 1960s two poster headboard in patinated bronze tone by John Widdicomb for John Stuart

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Bronze, Steel

King-Size Bronze Two Poster Headboard with Caned Panels

H 80 in W 78 in D 2 in

Four Poster Bed by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals

Located in New York, NY

Exceptional four poster bed by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals. Highest quality

Category

Vintage 1950s American Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Gold Leaf

Four Poster Bed by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals

H 84 in W 65 in D 86 in

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Bed Italian Venetian Painted Trompe L’œil Baroque Fortuny Superking 6ft 180cm

Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK

Magnificent, 18th Century, Venetian, Trompe-L’œil, Painted, Bed, Superking 6ft, 180cm wide, With Massive 213cm, 6ft 10in Shaped Headboard & 149cm, 5ft Shaped Footboard & Fortuny Bedc...

Category

Antique 1730s European Baroque Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Paint

Bed Italian Venetian Painted Trompe L’œil Baroque Fortuny Superking 6ft 180cm

$34,254

H 83.47 in W 74.81 in D 88.19 in

Bed Tester Spanish Baroque Carved Dark Green & Gilded Leather Superking 6ft180cm

Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK

Rare, Spanish Demi-Tester, Baroque Bed With Carved, Green Painted & Gilded Posts 181cm, 6ft High, Floral Painted Leather Headboard, sold with custom made box spring mattress base, ac...

Category

Antique 1720s Spanish Baroque Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Giltwood, Paint

Bed Tester Spanish Baroque Carved Dark Green & Gilded Leather Superking 6ft180cm

$34,254

H 70.87 in W 73.23 in D 88.19 in

Antique Sheraton Cherry Canopy Bed C1820

Located in Big Flats, NY

***Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Click on “Ask Seller” to Request a Quote*** Antique Sheraton Cherry Canopy Bed C1820. Measures - 86"H x 55.5"W x 82.5"D. A finely crafted a...

Category

Antique 19th Century Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Cherry

Antique Sheraton Cherry Canopy Bed C1820

$960 Sale Price

20% Off

H 86 in W 55.5 in D 82.5 in

A French Louis XVI style carved and painted, full size bed, 19th C.

Located in Philadelphia, PA

The head and foot boards are slightly arched and flanked by detached columns carved with twisted grooves and gadroons. The wood has a wonderful tone and patina. The upholstery is wor...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

A French Louis XVI style carved and painted, full size bed, 19th C.

$2,850

H 51 in W 64 in D 81 in

ANTIQUE VICTORIAN CIRCA 1860 HAND CARVED BURR WALNUT HALF TESTER CANOPY BEd

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely handmade in England Burr Walnut ornately carved Half Tester Canopy bed A very good looking, extremely comfortable and well-made bed, t...

Category

Antique 1860s British Victorian Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Hardwood

ANTIQUE VICTORIAN CIRCA 1860 HAND CARVED BURR WALNUT HALF TESTER CANOPY BEd

$5,412

H 93.31 in W 56.5 in D 84.65 in

Restoration period bed with canopy

Located in Paris, FR

Restoration-period mahogany-veneered boat-shaped sofa-bed with slightly inverted headboard. The front is soberly adorned with an ormolu plaque featuring scrolls and fleurons framing ...

Category

Antique 1820s French Bedroom Sets

Materials

Bronze

Restoration period bed with canopy

$15,240

H 49.22 in W 77.56 in D 33.86 in

Large Empire period boat bed and canopy

Located in Paris, FR

Large boat bed in solid flamed mahogany, mahogany veneer, richly decorated with finely chased and gilded bronzes, from the Empire period. Four baluster jambs, adorned with fleurons, ...

Category

Antique Early 1800s French Empire Bedroom Sets

Materials

Bronze

Large Empire period boat bed and canopy

$18,834

H 44.89 in W 78.75 in D 47.25 in

Reconstructed Wooden Four Poster Bed Using Antique Bed Posts

Located in Wrexham, GB

A bespoke hand-crafted four poster bed using original antique decorative front posts. Our skilled craftsmen in our Welsh workshops will reconstruct a four poster bed in the same styl...

Category

2010s British Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Sapele Wood

Reconstructed Wooden Four Poster Bed Using Antique Bed Posts

$14,325 / item

H 98 in W 72 in D 84 in

19th Century Tester Bed

Located in New Orleans, LA

This lavish American tester bed exhibits superior craftsmanship and detail. The design is embellished with elaborate carvings on the headboard and sides. The stunning wood grain enha...

Category

Antique 19th Century American Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Silk, Wood

19th Century Tester Bed

$24,500

H 124 in W 82 in D 89.5 in

Prudent Mallard attrib. American Rococo Revival Mahogany Tester Bed

By Prudent Mallard

Located in Savannah, GA

A tester bed, also known as a four-poster bed, is a bed with four vertical columns supporting a rectangular panel (the "tester") at the top, often with rails to allow curtains to be ...

Category

Antique 1830s Rococo Revival Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Brass

Prudent Mallard attrib. American Rococo Revival Mahogany Tester Bed

$23,950

H 90 in W 60 in D 69 in

"canopy bed" in walnut style louis XIII, period XIX .FULL RESTORED

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

" lit à baldaquin " in walnut style louis XIII, period XIX completely restored for the filming of a historical film custom-made box spring and mattress new tapestry... the box sprin...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XIII Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Walnut

"canopy bed" in walnut style louis XIII, period XIX .FULL RESTORED

$16,174

H 90.56 in W 86.62 in D 53.15 in

Austrian Bentwood Queen Sized Bed by Jacob & Josef Kohn, 1900

Located in Miami, FL

Designed by J & J Kohn, this mahogany stained bentwood bed features curved head and footboards swelling with decorative scroll form tendrils. J & J Kohn, No. 876, 1900 Catalog. He...

Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Bentwood

Austrian Bentwood Queen Sized Bed by Jacob & Josef Kohn, 1900

$6,250 / item

H 55.91 in W 57.49 in D 76.78 in

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Questions About Gold Poster Bed

What is the difference between a canopy bed and a four poster bed?
1 Answer
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.
Is it a four-post bed or four-poster bed?
1 Answer
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.
What is the point of a four-poster bed?
1 Answer
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.
What is a tester on a four poster bed?
1 Answer
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.
What is the top of a four-poster bed called?
1 Answer
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.
How do I make a four-poster bed modern?
1 Answer
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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