Bedside Tables And Their Use Throughout American History
Bedside Tables And Their Use Throughout American History
America, and for that matter the world, hasn't always had bedside tables. These handy little objects were not part of the cave furnishings, or for one room with a loft cottages, either. But shortly after beds were removed to a separate room, and definitely after stairs became the elegant way to reach them, bedside 'stands' became popular.Think about it. If you sleep in the same room that you cook, eat, and sit in - for warmth or because its the only room you have - the light of the fire will get you safely to bed. If you are sleeping in a loft, you can't take anything with you that you can't carry in your teeth as you climb the ladder.However, when you go into a dark chamber with a door or a curtain, you may need a candle to light your way. What are you going to do with it when you get to the bed? First settlers probably blew it out and put it on the floor, hoping not to step on it in the morning.This is the cue for someone to visualize the practicality and luxury of a small table, same height as the bed, with just enough room for the night light. Soon every woman on the creek would want one, too.Early furniture was made of the readily available oak and maple, but many pine bedside tables were made. The New World was forested with huge pine trees, first used for masts for ocean sailing ships and later for the lumber to build the new country. The Industrial Revolution required warehouses and factories, and the pines were harvested to fill the need.Men who sawed the lumber grew to appreciate this soft wood that had the long-fiber strength and the clear, close grain of hard wood. Soon they were using it to make furniture, as well as the usual oak, maple, and fruit wood. Fine bedroom furniture was often made of cherry or walnut, but much of the country and cottage furniture was pine.The 'stand' by the bed began as a simple plank top with legs. Later designs included a low shelf, then a drawer over a storage area, and then added a cabinet door to the front. Small chests of three or more drawers became popular. More elegant furniture in town homes and plantation manors was copied by local artisans and variations on the theme were many.Nightstands were made of wood left natural or stained, and either polished or varnished. The straight legs went through fashionable changes, being tapered or carved. French influence around the time of the Revolution led to painted nightstands with cabriole legs, elegantly curved and fragile. In the 1930 era, small tables were often round, with fancy legs coming to a center point half way down. It became the fashion to cover them with floral fabrics draped to the floor.These days, it is hard to visualize a bedroom without one or more tables at bedside. The alarm clock, the reading lamp, the latest bestseller, the TV remote all need someplace to be close at hand. Popular styles include antique, vintage, reproduction, modern, designer, and crate. There are many outlets for this indispensable item, from thrift shops and antique shops to furniture showrooms, catalogs, and on line retailers. Prices vary from very reasonable for unfinished oak to astronomical for a true William and Mary collectible.Bedside tables are such an essential part of a home it is funny to think that they were once not even thought of. Permanent makeup from beautycontours.com Gianni Truvianni's "South Africa 2010", Foreigners Give Germany 4-0 Victory Over Australia FBI Chasing after Links of London Looking for Holidaying in Maldives? Halloween Looking Callaway Diablo Edge Driver Review What you choose as gifts on Christmas Day — Breitling Replica Watches Amsterdam Guided Tour LG GT505 offers medium range users a reason to smile by deals on Christmas Links of London Bracelets from Chaneljewelryonsale.com Top Reasons to Travel Australia-tourist attractions and events A Passionate Travel Writer Rajasthan Tours- India's Most Popular Tourist Destination Make shopping more enjoyable with a trip to London