Box mattress
Heal and Sons
Category
Furniture
Date
1901 - 1910
Materials
Mahogany, horsehair and cotton
Place of origin
London
Collection
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
NT 1247631.3.3
Summary
A sprung box base, part of a mahogany four-poster bed, English, early 20th century, by Heal & Sons of London. The headboard [NT 1247631.1] bearing a maker's label; and so too the box base. The sprung box with horsehair padding and cotton coverings. Comprising fluted and turned bedposts, a footboard and a headboard, tester canopy, box spring and mattress. The canopy covered with blue felt. The bedposts slightly earlier and/or re-used from an earlier bed. The headcloth of blue fabric with a blue and white floral pattern. As yet unidentified on Mrs. Greville's 1943 probate inventory, but thought to be from either Mrs. Greville's bedroom or the Chippendale Bedroom.
Provenance
Date of acquisition not recorded; probably bequeathed by Margaret McEwan, The Hon. Mrs Ronald Greville (1863-1942) with Polesden Lacey, to the National Trust, in memory of her father, William McEwan (1827-1913) in 1942. This bed was found stored in the water tower at Polesden Lacey, circa 2005, and removed, cleaned, wrapped and stored in Bungalow 4. It was brought out of store and assembled on 19 April 2012.
Marks and inscriptions
Mattress: Heal & Sons. At the sign of the four poster. Good bedding. London W
Makers and roles
Heal and Sons, manufacturer Heal and Sons, retailer