Metamorphic Bed, England, c. 1750

 

Made in 1/12th scale by Wm. R. Robertson, 2014

 

Have you ever had overnight guests and found yourself in need of an extra bed? This is a problem that’s tormented hosts for hundreds of years.  In the mid-18th Century, a most elegant solution was created—a beautiful settee by day, that transformed into a bed at night.  George Washington had one such piece of furniture at Mount Vernon he purchased in 1774. These beds, also called “deception” or “folding” beds are quite rare. The seat lifts up to allow the hinged frame of the bed to unfold and extend. The back of the settee rises to form a canopy—complete with hardware on which to hang curtains.