Bed Steps

Centuries ago around 1790-1900 people had many layers of mattress on their beds; they needed bed step to get onto the bed. Bed steps were made crudely made and hidden beneath the bed. But from 1790 the modification of bed step were improved, became commodes, covered with carpet, and decorated with carving. It became more significant as decorative furniture.

1790-1830: Generally 3 steps, the lowest as platform base and the upper steps formed as chamber pot with hinged lids. Sometimes a bidet was fitted in the upper step. Legs were short, either square sectioned and tapering, splayed, sabre or turned.

1830-1900: Generally 2 steps only. Most were rectangular form box with broad stumpy turned legs.

Mahogany, satinwood or oak were the common used material. The finishing was wax polish.

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