Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 277, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1910 — $190,000 FOR A BED [ARTICLE]

$190,000 FOR A BED

Top Price Paid by Stephen Marchand for Bedstead. Massive Piece of Ebony Bought by American—Carvings Alone Cost 964,000 —Masonic Affair in French Collection. London.—Nowadays bedsteads are comparatively cheap, and >IOO is considered a big price for even a rich man to spend on a couch whereon he may pass away in comfort his sleeping hours. Occasionally, however, a millionaire will spend a few hundreds or thousands of pounds on the furnishing of his bedchamber and he will not be satisfied unless the bedstead equals in splendor the bedsteads to be found in the world’s royal palaces. Stephen Marchand, an American of vast wealth, made up his mind to possess the most expensively fitted bed-

chamber in the two hemispheres, and with this purpose in view he spent not less than SIOO,OOO on a bedstead alone. It was constructed of massive ebony, with elaborate carvings of solid ivory and inlaid with gold filigree. At the head of the bedstead was a huge trophy cut from one solid piece of ivory. A special journey was taken to Africa to obtain a massive tusk for the purpose. The bedstead was made by a large firm In Paris and It occupied the finest artisans of France for over two years before it was completed. The hangings were of a special purple damask, costing nearly 925 a yard. Mr. Marchand’s bedchamber, which was of elliptical form and measured 76 feet by 22 feet, had its wall paneled with elaborately carved enrichments in the style of Louis XV., costing no less a sum than $64,000. The ceiling of this apartment was carved and decorated by Parisian artists who were paid 919,350. A rich London lady, a year or two

ago, spent over $60,000 in furnishing her bedchamber. The carpet—a grand, hand-tied purple Axmlnster—cost 97,600. The chairs and other .furniture are of solid, carved ivory, with ebony and gold inlay. The toilet fittings are of oriental alabaster and cost some hundreds of pounds. In the center of the room is a Cochin China table, inlaid with mother of pearl and worth 9750. The bedstead is of brass, inlaid with fine pearls, and at the head is an artificial landscape of crystal, ivory, amber, pearls and other stones. The bedchambers in the palaces of Turkey are most magnificent and the majority of the royal couches within them are worth small fortunes. When the German empress once visited the ex-sultan Abdul Hamid; a room was placed at her disposal which contained a bedstead constructed entirely of solid silver, artistically chased in many elegant designs. The curtains which surrounded it were of oriental material and design, heavily embroidered with gold. The shah of Persia possesses one of the finest bedchambers in existence. Its suite of furniture is manufactured from ivory and inlaid with gold and precious stones. The curtains and curtain hangers are of the finest Brussels net, Interwoven with silk. The chef d’oeuvre of the whole apartment is the bedstead. It is composed entirely of crystal and delicately chased fountains qh the sides eject jets of scented water at the will of the occupant. Above the bed is a huge chandelier, which, when lighted, looks like a mass of monster diamonds, all reflecting their brilliance at' the same time. In the French state collection of furniture there is a Masonic bedstead, surmounted by a large canopy. It is of extraordinary height and is ornamented with some of the most delicate carving it is possible for the hand of man to turn out. The French government has had several tempting offers for this beautiful couch, and it refused, some time ago, 15,000 guineas for IL