Canopy Beds

In a Chinese house, a bed might come with a roof, walls and a view. Canopy beds are the most architectural of beds, framed by posts and a carved overhead panel. The Chinese canopy bed, made in elm or hardwood and once hung with curtains, was a private room within a room, its lattice and openwork panels carved with flowers, birds and auspicious emblems; Indonesian and Indian four-posters followed a similar idea in teak. Under a high ceiling it sets the scale of the whole room, draped or bare. Privacy, with excellent joinery.