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Headboard for a rope bed.
Images (click to enlarge)
  • Footboard showing turned upper rail.
    Footboard with turned post.
  • Ropes would be threaded through holes in the frame to create the base of the bed.
    Headboard with holes for rope.
  • Wooden key used to tighten ropes on beds.
    Wooden Key to tighten ropes.
Cultural Objects, Furniture

Altizer Rope Bed

People
Maker/Creator: Unknown
Associated Person: Aaron Altizer
Date
Unknown
Places
White Rock (Indian Valley District)
Material/Medium

Wood

Specifications
  • Width of headboard: 54 inches
  • Height of headboard: 48 inches
  • Width of footboard: 54 inches
  • Height of footboard: 44 inches
Description

The headboard of this bed has an upper board with semicircular cutouts on the sides, inserted into  turned posts. The posts are topped by turned finials. A separate lower board has six evenly spaced holes drilled for lacing a rope from it to the footboard. The footboard features a turned decorative post with a  middle and lower board complementing those on the headboard. The wooden side rails also have holes drilled for the rope.  Rope would be laced or woven into a grid that would support the bedding and persons sleeping.

Keywords
Rope bed
Bio Sketch

Aaron and Ada Altizer owned this bed. Family members did not know who had made it but said it had always been in their family home.

Notes

Keeping the rope lacing taut on these beds is a challenge. The “rope key” shown at left is part of the Old Church Gallery collections but did not come from the Altizer family.