L E FORT. Bed Catalog. Fine Furniture in the American Tradition

Transcription

1 Bed Catalog Page 1

2 Working in the tradition of the great American cabinet makers of the Eighteenth Century, David LeFort s goal is to create works of art unsurpassed in beauty and craftsmanship. Each piece is the achievement of a master cabinet maker. Every board is meticulously matched for figure and grain, every surface is hand planed, every dovetail hand cut and every leg and decorative element hand carved. As a mark of pride, each individual piece bears the cabinetmaker s signature pledging a personal guarantee of enduring quality. * All beds are built in solid woods - - curly maple, cherry, mahogany or poplar. * Standard rails are maple. * Choice of standard wood finishes or worn paint in standard color over stain. * Brass bolt covers are included. Please see price list for more details. Page 2

3 Queen Anne Post Bed 183 American Queen Anne four post beds having cabriole legs and pad feet are extremely rare. There is, however, an exceptional example at the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum. This piece, probably made by Job Townsend, is of mahogany and displays the graceful lines associated with the Queen Anne period. Our version of this bed has all four posts turned the same way above the block; which includes a ring detail not shown above. It s footposts have the quintessentially Queen Anne feature of cabriole legs and pad feet, while its headposts have a square leg. posts: 79 3/4 H rec. headboard: Newport rails: 2-1/2 x 4-1/4 maple center. support: std. queen or king rails are bead cut on two facing corners - top of rail: 17-3/4 above floor Page 3

4 Pencil Post Bed #103 The simplicity of this bed accounts for its enormous popularity. The pencil post style was made throughout the 18th Century and well into the 19th Century. In fact, his bed has never gone out of style. It is this bed s overall simplicity which allows it to blend in well with furniture from many periods. The posts above the rails taper on 8 sides toward the top. The sides, which taper at a 45 o angle, terminate with a lamb s tongue, easing the transition to it s square base. posts: 80 H rec. headboard: Newport rails: 3 x 1-3/4 maple center support: std. queen or king Page 4

5 Hepplewhite Bed c Shown with optional spade feet, reeded footposts, 41/4 rails and serpentine testor. A Salem headboard is shown. 122 Please note that our current serpentine tester has six cross members. These beds are a classic example of the Federal period. They are representative of the transition away from the heavier Chippendale style into the lighter forms of Hepplewhite and then Sheraton, which became very popular in the early 19th Century. Furnishings and architecture of this period relied heavily on classical elements, including the vase, urn and spade foot motiffs, which hve all been incorporated into this bed. The simple replacement of the spade foot, pictured above, with a turned foot takes these beds into the later Sheraton period field bed category. Because of it s compact height the Hepplewhite bed was often used under eaves in upstairs bedrooms, sometimes with a serpentine testor to support hangings. The Tall Heppplewhite bed is typically fitted with a flat testor. Decorative options include reeding on the posts and simple urn finials atop them. Hepplewhite Bed posts: 66 H rec. headboard: Hancock & Newport rails: 3 x 1-3/4 center support: standard on queen or king Tall Hepplewhite Bed posts: 81 1/4 H other features are same as above Both beds are standard with turned feet and non-reeded posts Please see price list for more options.

6 Tall Hepplewhite Bed 122T These beds are a classic example of the Federal period. They are representative of the transition away from the heavier Chippendale style into the lighter forms of Hepplewhite and then Sheraton, which became very popular in the early 19th Century. Furnishings and architecture of this period relied heavily on classical elements, including the vase, urn and spade foot motiffs, which hve all been incorporated into this bed. The simple replacement of the spade foot, pictured above, with a turned foot takes these beds into the later Sheraton period field bed category. Because of it s compact height the Hepplewhite bed was often used under eaves in upstairs bedrooms, sometimes with a serpentine testor to support hangings. The Tall Heppplewhite bed is typically fitted with a flat testor. Decorative options include reeding on the posts and simple urn finials atop them. Hepplewhite Bed posts: 66 H rec. headboard: Hancock & Newport rails: 3 x 1-3/4 center support: standard on queen or king Tall Hepplewhite Bed posts: 81 1/4 H other features are same as above Both beds are standard with turned feet and non-reeded posts Please see price list for more options.

7 Chippendale Bed 123 c pictured in full dress with optional spiral carved vases, fluted posts, applied moldings, 4 1/4 rails and four-piece tester. Shown with Weathersfeild headboard This bed is based on an 18th Century Massachusetts bed, originally owned by Richard Derby of Salem. It is now part of the collection at the Henry dupont Winterthur Museum. While this was a favored design among the well heeled New Englanders of the time, it is one of the few examples of such sophisticated design executed in curly maple that remains in existence.. As was customary, the headposts on our bed are available as plain posts. It s footposts are adorned with a vase motif and tapered turnings, while it s Marlboro feet lend a bold stance. for added embellishment, the options of fluted posts, applied mouldings at the base and spiral carved vases are available. posts: 81-3/4 H rec. headboard: Newport rails: 2-1/2 x 4-1/4 maple center support: stnd. queen or king top of rail: 17-3/4 above floor Page 7

8 Newport Ball & Claw Bed 184 c pictured with optional spiral carved flame finials and a 4-piece testor, a 6-piece testor is recommended with bed hangings This bed is based on one owned by Rhode Island School of Design and is attributed to the Goddard-Townsend cabinetmakers of 18th Century Newport. Our bed features all four posts turned above the block, with the options of stop fluting on two or four posts. The base of the foot posts consist of a cabriole leg ending in a hand-carved ball and claw foot. The base of the headposts are square. The maple rails display a bead cut on all four sides Because of the intricacy of design, this bed is only available in mahogany. Options for this bed include a C scroll carving on the knees of the footposts and carved flame finials, adding an extra degree of sophistication. posts: 81-3/4 H rec. headboard: Newport rails: 2-1/2 x 4-1/4 maple center support: stnd. queen or king top of rail: 17-3/4 above floor rails are bead cut on two facing corners Page 8

9 Bell & Ball Bed 173 Shown with optional Blanket Rail, and 4 1/4 Rails. Historically, these beds first enjoyed popularity during the second quarter of the 19th Century and are commonly referred to as Cannon Ball beds. Our bed has a ball on top with a bell shape below, hence the name bell & ball. It s form reflects the movement from lighter Sheraton period to the heavier mood of the Neoclassical or Empire period. The Empire period ushered in a less formal life style than those which had gone before. No longer were the tall post beds draped with hangings considered fashionable. The bell & ball beds were typically made in the domestic woods of maple, cherry, and birch in the northern regions and were quite often painted. The mid-atlantic areas used poplar, cherry and sometimes walnut. Often these beds had the feature of a quilt bar or blanket rail, which is a turned piece connecting the footposts to hang a quilt on. posts: 52-3/4 H rec. headboard: Bell & Ball rails: 3 x 1-3/4 maple center support: stnd. queen or king Page 9

10 Shaker Low Post Bed 172 It s simplicity has made this bed an enduring favorite for generations. This bed captures the Shakers style of form and function. It possess the characteristics of the swelled leg and the squashed ball. These beds were often used in upstairs bedrooms, where sloped ceilings can restrict the use of a tall post bed. Often times, these beds were equiped with a footboard. We offer this as an option. Please see our bed price list for more information. headposts: 42 H rec. headboard: Hancock & Newport footposts: 28-1/2 H rails: 3 x 1-3/4 maple footboard (optional): 7 W center support: standard on queen or king Page 10

11 Headboard Styles #1 HANCOCK #6 BOSTON #2 STURBRIDGE #3 SALEM Page11

12 Headboard Styles #5 WEATHERSFIELD #7 NEWPORT #4 CHESTER #8 BELL & BALL Page 12

13 Post Options R.I. Ball & Claw 81-3/4 2. Queen Anne 79-3/4 3. Tall Hepplewhite 81-1/4 4. Hepplewhite Chippendale 80-1/2 6. Carved Chipp. 80-1/2 7. Pencil Post Fluted Pencil Post Bell & Ball 52-3/4 10. Shaker low 42 Page 13

14 Finial Styles acorn urn simple flame large urn carved flame 3 4-3/8 H 6 H 6-1/4 H 7 H Bed Diagram Standard Features of LeFort beds include: All beds are built in solid woods - - curly maple, cherry, mahogany or poplar. Standard rails are maple. Choice of standard wood finishes or worn paint in standard color over stain. Brass bolt covers are included. Please refer to price list for more information. Page 14