French Bedstead

 

Accession #: 1997-152-1

Geography: Philadelphia, PA

Date: 1825-35
Owner: PMA
Artist: Attributed to Anthony Quervelle  
Materials: Wood (mahogany, mahogany veneer, tulip poplar); brass
Dimensions: PR end: 52 1/4 × 65 1/2 × 8 1/2 inches (132.7 × 166.4 × 21.6 cm); PL end: 52 1/4 × 65 1/2 × 8 1/2 inches (132.7 × 166.4 × 21.6 cm); Front rail: 28 inches × 6 feet 6 inches × 5 3/4 inches (71.1 × 198.1 × 14.6 cm); Back rail: 25 3/4 inches × 6 feet 6 inches × 3 1/2 inches (65.4 × 198.1 × 8.9 cm)

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This French-style bedstead was originally owned by Joseph Bonaparte, the older brother of Napolean, who lived in exile in Philadelphia and New Jersey during the early nineteenth century. It is attributed to French-born Philadelphia cabinetmaker Anthony Quervelle. 

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The wooden elements of the bed were treated by Caite Sofield, former Mellon Fellow in Furniture Conservation at PMA, and upholstery was researched and executed by PMA Museum seamstress Beth Paolini. 

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During the installation of PMA's Early American galleries, I assisted in assembling the bed, along with Furniture Conservators Behrooz Salimnejad and Peggy Olley, Seamstress Beth Paolini, Curator Alexandra Kirtley, and Installations Coordinator Eric Griffen.

 

I also built a plywood deck to support the bedding upholstery and built mounts to hold reproduction tie-backs and support the drapery hanging.    

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