Beds - a necessary luxury!
Based on the design of beds found in Viking-age Scandinavian graves, with some modifications of my own to the joinery. The frame is oak or ash, the slats are poplar. The headboard is about 8" wide; the top of the footboard is about 6" above the slats. The side rails are joined to the posts with vertical wedges instead of pegs, for greater strength and stability.
This one is a double bed size (54" x 74" mattress); other sizes available by special order. The bed will accommodate either an air mattress or futon. The bottom of the side rails is about 15" off the ground, providing lots of storage space under the bed.
These are quite solid, but for even greater stability, the center slat can be tenoned through the sides and wedged (see photo below).
On the original Viking beds, the slats were tenoned through the side rails, as in the photo at left, and there were more slats.
The top-knot on the posts is based on beds from the Oseberg and Gokstad ship-burials.
Custom features can be added: wider or gabled headboards, recessed-panel carving on the posts, or other post treatments. For Example:
This is a gabled headboard with carved quatrefoils in the headboard and footboard. It is sized for a single-bed mattress (39" wide).
Other styles of pierced or carved work are possible - just ask!
We can design and build any style from the period.
