Half Tester Beds
19th C English Half Tester Double Brass Bed Frame
Located in Staffordshire, GB
Circa 1890
19thC English half tester double brass bed frame with lattice swing brackets to the
Category
Antique 19th Century English Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass, Iron
Magnificent Exhibition Quality Antique Gilded Solid Brass Half Tester Double Bed
Located in Suffolk, GB
Magnificent exhibition quality antique 19th Century Victorian gilded solid brass half tester double
Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass
H 88.98 in W 55.91 in D 81.89 in
Magnificent Exhibition Quality Antique Gilded Solid Brass Half Tester Double Bed
Located in Suffolk, GB
Magnificent exhibition quality antique Victorian gilded solid brass half tester double bed having a
Category
Antique 1860s English Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass
H 88.98 in W 55.91 in D 81.89 in
Pair Beds Tester 19c American Colonial-Style Mahogany Douglas Fairbanks Pickfair
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
This pair of half-tester beds were acquired for the guest suite at Douglas Fairbanks Sr and Mary
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century North American American Colonial Beds and Bed F...
Materials
Mahogany
H 75.99 in W 83.86 in D 42.92 in
ANTIQUE VICTORIAN CIRCA 1860 HAND CARVED BURR WALNUT HALF TESTER CANOPY BEd
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Tester Canopy bed
A very good looking, extremely comfortable and well-made bed, this is pretty much as
Category
Antique 1860s British Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Hardwood
H 93.31 in W 56.5 in D 84.65 in
Recent Sales
Late Victorian Iron and Brass Half Tester Bed, circa 1880
Located in Avington, Hampshire
Late Victorian iron and brass half tester bed, circa 1880
Mattress not included, please enquire if
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Beds and Bed Frames
Blue Verdigris Half Tester Bed, M4P28
Located in Wrexham, GB
5ft wide attractive cast iron half tester bed finished in blue Verdigris.
The price includes a
Category
Antique Late 19th Century European Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Iron
Half Tester Bed in Mahogany, WK111
Located in Wrexham, GB
Magnificent mahogany Victorian half tester bed with arched foot panel and serpentine canopy.
The
Category
Antique Early 19th Century European Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Mahogany
Prudent Mallard Half-Tester Bed
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional American Rococo Revival half-tester bed displays the hallmarks of the great New
Category
Antique 19th Century American Rococo Revival Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Rosewood
Gold Double Half Tester Bed - M4P22
Located in Wrexham, GB
A cast iron half tester bed from the mid-Victorian era finished in gold with decorative brass
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass, Steel, Iron
Painted Cast Iron Half Tester Bed M4P34
Located in Wrexham, GB
This superb original mid-Victorian cast iron half tester bed has the original floral painted
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Iron
Mid-Victorian Iron Half Tester Bed
Located in Wrexham, GB
A fine example of a cast iron half tester bed in its original condition. The ornate iron work on
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Iron, Steel
Mid-Victorian Cast Iron Half Tester Bed - MHT1
Located in Wrexham, GB
A fine example of a cast iron half tester bed finished in white. The ornate iron work on the panel
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass, Iron, Steel
Mid-Victorian Cast Iron Half Tester Bed - MHT2
Located in Wrexham, GB
A superb and rare example of a mid-Victorian half tester bed in original condition. The tapered
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass, Iron, Steel
Victorian Mahogany Half Tester Bed, Sunburst Canopy Barley Twist Columns
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
This Victorian mahogany half tester bed is superb, it dates from around 1860 it has a half canopy
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Mahogany
Victorian Mahogany Half Tester Bed
Located in Wrexham, GB
A magnificent Victorian mahogany half tester bedstead with shaped foot panel and tall canopy. The
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Mahogany
Brass & Iron Half Tester Bed, M4P39
Located in Wrexham, GB
Beautifully painted Victorian half tester bedstead in our hand painted blue verdigris with
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass, Iron
Cast Iron Half Tester Antique Bed finished in Blue Verdigris, M4P46
Located in Wrexham, GB
A 5ft wide cast iron antique half tester bed with half-round canopy supported by tall back posts
Category
Antique 1880s Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass, Iron
Scottish Half Tester Bedstead
Located in Wrexham, GB
A superb light maplewood Scottish half tester bedstead with moire effect panels and turned posts
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Maple, Satinwood
Mahogany Half Tester Bedstead - WHT1
Located in Wrexham, GB
Seventh Heaven.
The dimensions of this bed are:
Absolute Width: 63 in (160 cm)
Absolute Length: 87 in
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Great Britain (UK) Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Mahogany
Vintage Gothic Victorian Style Carved Mahogany Half Tester Queen Size Canopy Bed
Located in Dayton, OH
Contemporary Carved Mahogany Half Tester Queen Size Bed, last quarter 20th c. Features serpentine
Category
Late 20th Century Gothic Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Mahogany
H 99 in W 68 in D 91 in
An Arts & Crafts Cast Brass Half Tester Double Bed with Stylised Floral Details
Located in London, GB
An Arts and Crafts lacquered cast brass half tester double bedstead, with stylised plant and floral
Category
20th Century English Arts and Crafts Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass
H 87 in W 53.5 in D 78 in
Victorian Mahogany Half Tester Bed
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Victorian Mahogany half tester bed with well figured arched footboard and upholstered headboard
Category
Antique 1880s Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Mahogany
Gothic Mahogany Half Tester Bed
Located in Wrexham, GB
This magnificent Gothic half tester bed has linenfold carved decoration on the back panels, the
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Gothic Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Mahogany
All Brass Half Tester Bed, MHT3
Located in Wrexham, GB
A superb example of a late Victorian half tester bed with ornate cast brass fittings, barley twist
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass, Iron
Antique Half Tester Bed in Mahogany, WHT2
Located in Wrexham, GB
A magnificent mahogany Victorian half tester bed with flame veneer in the shaped foot panel
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Mahogany
Unusual Antique Victorian Miniature Oak Half Tester Bed
Located in Stutton, GB
Unusual antique victorian miniature oak half tester bed
All original lovely color and condition
9
Category
Antique 19th Century European Victorian Architectural Models
Materials
Oak
The Heron Bed
Located in Peterborough, Northamptonshire
The Heron Bed, a magnificent mahogany Half Tester Bed, attributed to Blanes of Liverpool and
Category
Antique 19th Century English Beds and Bed Frames
half tester press bed
Located in Hudson, NY
birch half tester press bed from the north shore of Boston, MA
old refinished - retains some
Category
Antique 19th Century American Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Birch
CB-17 Antique Scottish '1870' Victorian Queen Size Half Tester Brass Bed
Located in Vancouver, BC
CB-17 antique Scottish Victorian queen-size half tester brass bed,
Scotland, 1870.
All
Category
Antique 1870s Scottish Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass
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Located in Essex, MA
With a serpentine shaped back and straight seat with loose cushion, out scrolled arms, raised on square section legs with stretchers. A Classic form with colorful hand done needlepoi...
Category
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Located in Pasadena, CA
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Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Aesthetic Movement Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
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A History of the American People, Signed by Woodrow Wilson, Alumni Edition #29 o
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Woodrow Wilson. A History of the American People. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1902. Alumni Edition #29 of 350 copies. Volume I signed by Woodrow Wilson on limitation page. 5 Volumes...
Category
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Materials
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H 11.25 in W 11 in D 7.25 in
Councill Furniture Georgian Carved Mahogany Queen Size Poster Bed
By Councill
Located in South Bend, IN
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By Councill Furniture
USA, Circa 1980s
Carved mahogany, with brass accents.
Measures: 64"W x 88"D x 86.75"H.
...
Category
Late 20th Century American Georgian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass
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...
Category
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Materials
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By La Maison London
Located in London, Park Royal
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H 87.01 in W 41.34 in D 88.59 in
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Italian 19th Century Canopy Bed with Silver Friezes and Upholstered Purple Silk
Located in Firenze, IT
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Category
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H 80.71 in W 78.75 in D 58.27 in
Art Deco Odeon Walnut Double Bed, England, 1930s
Located in Devon, England
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Category
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Iron
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By Maison Krieger
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
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Half Tester Beds For Sale on 1stDibs
Find a variety of half tester beds available on 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, metal and brass, all half tester beds available were constructed with great care. Half tester beds have been produced for many years, with earlier versions available from the 19th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. Victorian, Arts and Crafts and mid-century modern half tester beds are consistently popular styles. Many half tester beds are appealing in their simplicity, but Pia Manu produced popular half tester beds that are worth a look.
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 Half Tester Beds
- What is a half tester bed?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 2, 2021A half tester bed is a low-foot bed — which means there is no footboard and it won’t look as imposing in your bedroom, particularly if space is a concern. A half tester bed’s canopy only covers the headboard. It is known as a “half” tester bed because the canopy extends only to half the length of the bed. Shop a collection of antique, vintage and contemporary half tester beds from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
- What does half-tester bed mean?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A half-tester bed means that the bed features a half a canopy above it. This half-tester may be used to suspend curtains that could help provide more privacy and retain more warmth around the head of the bed. Shop 1stDibs for a collection of beds featuring half-testers.
- What is a tester bed?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 2, 2021Also known as a canopy bed, a tester bed is supported with a headboard and two posts. A tester bed usually features a full-sized suspended canopy with curtains on the top, back and sides. Shop a collection of antique, vintage and contemporary tester beds from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The 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.
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