For centuries the bed has been one of the most important items of furniture in a household.
Beds are a status symbol: the Tudor royals and noblemen showed off their wealth through their huge four-poster beds and elaborate drapes and hangings, and many people today covet a spacious and beautifully designed bed in their home.
Rubber Foam Pillows
The difference in the quality and comfort of beds has always separated rich from poor and continues to do so. While some of us enjoy the luxury of fine Egyptian cotton sheets, others around the world still prepare for the night by rolling out a simple sleeping mat.
Beds in the ancient world
The earliest beds were little more than piles of straw or other natural materials to ease the discomfort of lying on a bare, cold floor. An important change occurred when beds were first raised off the ground to protect the sleeper from draughts, dirt, and pests.
More than 3,600 years ago, the Persians filled goatskins with water to create the first water beds. In ancient Egypt, beds were made from wood and reed matting, and the bed functioned as a place to eat and entertain socially as well as to sleep.
In Homer's Odyssey, the bed of Odysseus is described as being made of woven rope, while the ancient Romans had a variety of beds for different purposes. These included the lectus cubicularis, or chamber bed for sleeping, the lectus discubitorius, or table bed, on which up to three people would lie to eat, and the lectus funebris, on which the dead were carried to the pyre. In most ancient societies, however, only the rich would have enjoyed the luxury of sleeping in a bed.
Beds in the Middle Ages
In Saxon England, a bed typically consisted of a mattress on wooden boards, covered with quilts and fur rugs. In the later Saxon period, some beds were raised wooden platforms. Again, it was only the rich who slept in beds; everyone else spent the night on the floor huddled around the fire in the great hall. The 13th century saw the arrival of the canopy or tester, which was suspended by cords from beams above the bed. Curtains were hung on it to block out draughts and light. Gradually bed covers became more elaborate, often incorporating gold cloth and decorative fringes. In the early 14th century, feather beds imported from France became popular in English homes. In the wealthiest households a feather bed was placed onto the matted truss (mattress) of straw, with a layer of canvas in between.
The woollen blanket also appeared around this time. The great four-poster bed was first introduced in the 15th century, probably from Austria. These beds were typically enormous with huge intricately carved pillars up to 18 inches in diameter carrying the vast weight of the wooden panelled tester. Carvings on the bed included the family coat of arms, monsters, griffins, Cupids, and knights, and drapes and tapestries were heavily embroidered in splendid colours and exotic designs. When lords travelled between manors, they frequently took their beds with them. Portable beds were known as 'trussing' beds and the hangings were referred to as 'the portable chamber.' In 1600, the bed in a poor household would consist of a timber frame with rope or leather supports. The mattress was a bag of soft filling, usually straw or sometimes wool. However, a tradesman might have several feather beds in his house, often with an elaborately carved back and posts.
The origins of the modern bed
By the mid 18th century, a greater range of materials for bedding had become available. Quality linen or cotton was used for covers, while coconut fibre, cotton, wool and horsehair filled mattresses and pillows. By the late 19th century, iron and steel frames had largely replaced the traditional timber bed.
In 1873, Sir James Paget at St Bartholomew's Hospital first used a waterbed to treat and prevent pressure sores. The water-filled mattress allowed pressure to be evenly distributed over the body. By 1895 a few waterbeds were sold by Harrod's via mail order. But due to a lack of suitable materials, the waterbed did not gain widespread popularity until vinyl was developed in the 1960s.
In 1900, American William Lawrence Murphy invented the space-saving 'Murphy Bed', which folded up into a closet. 1929 saw the arrival of expensive latex rubber mattresses, and at around the same time pocket spring mattresses were introduced. These consisted of individual springs sewn into linked fabric bags.
The pocket sprung mattress is still sold worldwide today, though new technology has enabled alternatives to be developed such as the memory foam mattress, which moulds perfectly to the shape of your body and ensures a great night's sleep.
From an aesthetic perspective, beds made from natural materials such as pine have enjoyed a recent resurgence in popularity.
Black Friday Seven Comforts Premium Latex Foam Bed Pillow (Standard) 2011 Deals
Nov 16, 2011 22:39:14
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Black Friday Seven Comforts Premium Latex Foam Bed Pillow (Standard) Feature
- 100% all-natural materials consist of unbleached cotton cover and natural latex foam.
- Inherently hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and dust mite resistant.
- Micro-rod construction enhances breathability, stays cool and dry for superior sleep comfort.
- Unique middle seam for enhanced stability and contour for neck/spine support.
- Stays in shape and will not sag, providing excellent support and comfort that lasts for years and years.
Black Friday Seven Comforts Premium Latex Foam Bed Pillow (Standard) Overview
Seven Comforts latex bed pillows are 100% all-natural inside and out, because you wouldn't want it any other way. Each pillow is made with a 100% unbleached cotton shell filled with the finest natural latex foam produced using latex sap extracted from rubber trees. Natural latex is a breathable material, a trait further enhanced by our unique micro-rod construction, resulting in a pillow that stays cool and dry, does not trap heat, and promotes superior uninterrupted sleep. Natural latex is also inherently anti-microbial, hypoallergenic and resists dust mites, making it perfect for allergy sufferers or anyone who wants to sleep on a healthy pillow.Seven Comforts latex pillows are designed to provide a supportive height of 4-5 inches. Each pillow comes overstuffed with ample fill material, with a hidden zipper that allows removing of fill material to achieve the desired height and support. A stitched center seam enhances shape and stability for superior neck support, alleviating tension and sooths the cervical spine. Latex foam offers a wider range of firmness than conventional materials as it adjusts and conforms to different body weight within a reduced range of compression, providing the equivalent of medium to firm support. Because Latex foam is a durable material, the pillow will not deform or sag, and typically remain usable for over a decade. The Seven Comforts latex pillow will therefore provide excellent posture support and unmatched sleeping comfort for years to come.
NOTE: Seven Comforts bed pillows are stored and shipped in plastic packaging. Being sealed in plastic packaging sometimes traps odors. A few hours of airing usually removes the odor.
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