Description
A major piece of furniture, the bed is at the centre of the great events of life, a scene governed by etiquette and the rules of propriety. It also occupies a certain place in the ceremonial room in relation to the fireplace, which differs according to Italian fashion (opposite corner) or French usage (next to it).
The role of the cloths remained decisive, and the hanging canopy was in common use throughout the 16th century. The posts then only go up to a certain height, as here, to hang the bed-hangings. At the four corners, the posts take on the appearance of ringed spindles, with the base covered in foliage and the top spread out like a spinning top.
The posts rest on a frame mounted on four feet, turned into a high necked vase.On the head of the bed rises a curvilinear indented pediment, stamped in its centre with a shell.
Accosted by roses topped with variegated foliage, it is surmounted by a pleasing fleur-de-lis motif which stands out and crowns the pediment.
The bed proposed here can be compared to the one in the former Charbrière Arlès collection.
Couchette from the former Chabrière Arlès collection dated 1583 ( origin : château de Tréminis )