If you are in the market to buy a metal bed of
any kind, here are the options you should consider.
For centuries, iron beds have been the furniture centerpeice
of millions of bedrooms.
Original Antique Wrought Iron Bed
The traditional Victorian style wrought iron bed frames were originally
hand made long before today’s modern metalworking machinery was
available. For the right price you can buy an original antique that was
actually made a hundred or even hundreds of years ago and preserved and
cared for throughout the years. Keep in mind that you have to play the
roll of a collector so more patience and money are typically required
if you go this route. Because the word "wrought" means "shaped"
and the shaping is almost always done by hand, no two wrought iron beds
are alike. Be advised that most web sites use the term wrought iron, even
if the piece is made by machine from steel, aluminum, cast iron, etc.
Original Antique Cast Iron Bed
In 550 B.C., cast iron was considered a modern method of ironwork and
was first used by the Chinese. Raw iron is melted and poured like hot
lava into cast molds allowing for more consistency in design. Again, this
option is for the collector that is looking for an old piece of furniture.
Many collectors prefer an antique to add to their furniture collection.
While this is a great option for the right person, you may have to deal
with very hard to find bedframes and odd sized mattresses and box springs.
As with any antique, the heirloom piece may have taken on slight damage
throughout the years. As long as you are prepared for this, there is nothing
like the feeling of carrying the same torch as many before you.
Antique Reproduction Wrought Iron Bed
Since the term wrought really means hand made, the styles and blacksmith
techniques are pretty much the same. If you are looking for a brand new
metal bed, this is top of the line. There is just no substitute for the
hand-forged design from a skilled craftsman with a taste for art and fashion.
Antique Reproduction Cast Iron Bed & Steel.
Cast iron beds are more popular today than wrought ironbeds because they
are far more efficient to make and much more affordable. With power injection
molds, the casting machinery and methods used have come a long way since
550 B.C., although the concept is still the same. Power injection molds
allow for fine detail in the decorative casting on headboard, footboards,
canopy beds and daybeds. Typically, the spindles and the four bed posts
are made by melting raw iron and adding other elements to create steel,
the same material used in skyscrapers and cars. Steel melted into flat
sheets is then cut and rolled into tubing. Cast iron is used to make the
decorative castings and steel is typically used to make the four bed posts
and spindles. You will also see a lot of metal beds today that have straight,
clean lines and are made entirely of steel. One way you can judge the
quality of a cast iron bed is by the gauge of steel used in the headboard
and footboard posts and spindles.
Modern Contemporary Wrought Iron Bed
Whether simple and clean or ornate and intricate in design, artist continue
to find new ways of sculpting nature into headboards, footboards, wrought
iron canopy beds, wrought iron daybeds and more.
Modern Contemporary Cast Iron Bed
With the technology used in cast iron and computer drafting, artists are
virtually limitless in freedom of design. You will also see a lot of metal
beds today that have straight, clean lines and are made entirely of steel.
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