The Queen Anne State Bed

The Queen Anne State Bed made for Earl Powlett of Hinton House, Somerset, Lord Steward to Queen Anne.

The Queen Anne State Bed. Made for Earl Poulett of Hinton House, Somerset, c1710. This magnificent bed was fully restored with grants from the Monument Trust, the Leeds Art Fund and the Ramsden Bequest Fund in 2012. Beds whose canopies are suspended from the ceiling without the support of front posts are often known as ‘angel’ beds and were popular in the period c1680 – 1725.

This example was made into a four post (or full tester) bed in the early 19th century and one of the tasks of the restoration project was to return it to its original appearance. This was achieved by recarving the cornice, replicating the silk damask and velvet curtains; replacing the outer valances; and reweaving the gold braid. The headboard and inner valances were conserved and re-integrated with the new elements. The remaining original features were conserved and put into store. Only the bed cover and feet are inventions. 

The bed was made as part of a major re-ordering of the State rooms at Hinton House for a possible visit of Queen Anne for whom Earl Poulett was Lord Steward. In the event this never happened; the bed was sold in the early 20th century and installed at Beaudesert, Staffordshire. In the 1920s it was sold to the Henry Ford Museum, Detroit from where it was de-accessioned in 1979.    Bought with the aid of grants from the V&A Purchase Grant Fund and the Art Fund  (1981.0017).