A canopy bed features a bed head, or tester, with tall post at each corner at least four feet high that supports a fabric covering that can be drawn back. It is still found in many homes today and are popular in resorts and hotels for their romantic appeal.
The term canopy came from 14th century France. The French word canope which means bed curtain traces back to the Latin word canopeum and anterior to that, from Greeks' konopeion, a couch with mosquito curtains. All were derived from konops, a gnat or mosquito.
Considered today as elegant, canopy beds have their origins completely ordinary and unremarkable. This might interest you to know that canopy beds evolved from a box bed, an ordinary wooden box encasing a bed.
Early houses during the middle Ages had no insulation that could really provide warmth and protection. Houses during those days were made of wattle and daub with thatched roofs. The doors and windows provided niggling obstruction to the wind. They only filter the snow out of the wind as it passed through the house. It was so cold that even if you bundled up in bed with piles of blankets it was not very warm.
With this need, box bed with a door that closes was designed. Indeed, it was a great help to keep the wind off the bed as the bed was actually inside the wooden box thus, retaining warm air around. The cold breeze coming through the house might not have enough force to pass through its wall. If you were afraid of closed-in places, box bed was really claustrophobic.
Those who can afford used fabric to keep the body heat around the bed. Only the super wealthy could afford enough fabric to encase a bed. Those who have less in life found satisfaction inside a wooden box. With the bed on the ground, they put the same in the corner of the room so that only the top and two sides were encased.
Another reason for the creation of box bed was the falling objects from the roof. Thatched roofs were home to caterpillars and other insects that often fell down causing discomfort to the one sleeping below. For folks who can afford fabrics, posts were erected over the top to catch any stubborn pests. Indeed, canopy beds were a necessity during those times.
Landowners who lived in castles had other reasons for using canopy beds. In early European castles the lord, his family and servants slept in a single large room. They used canopy beds to allow for a bit of privacy. When castles afforded separate sleeping chambers, canopy beds were still in use to provide warmth.
Today canopy beds may no longer be a need but simply a desire in France and in Old England; however in many parts of the world, they are still considered a must. Where there are gnats, there are nets on canopy beds.
Canopy beds have developed a lot from an extremely conventional box bed to the ever stylish and forever desired bedroom furniture. It comes in different vogue and fashion, from carved wood to ornate cast iron. People who love magnificence prefer canopy beds adorned with matching canopy tops and luxury bed linens. Canopy bed was here centuries before and will be here evermore.
Pure Comfort Linens.com, the ecommerce outlet of Vicera Enterprises, Inc., a duly registered corporation, offers a wide variety of high quality bedding and accessories for every bedroom in your house. It carries simple and colorful linens, stylish bedspreads, conventional comforters with self corded edge finish, etc., balmy pillows, beautiful pillow cases and other bed accouterments. We have been providing consumers with durability and comfort at reasonable prices.
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