Bed, William Burges, England, 1879

Painted wood, inset mirrors

Carved and painted bed with inset mirrors and a depiction of a medieval version of The Judgement of Paris, with side-boards inset with illuminated vellum and textiles under glass. The inscription on the front of the bed reads VITA NOVA and bed posts - and on the right and left - WILLIAM BURGES ME FIUERI FECIT and ANNO DOMINI MDCCCLXXIX.

This bed was made for the guest chamber of Tower House, Melbury Road, London, the home of William Burges. Through the hares, hearts and arrows carved and painted on the foot of the bed, Burges surrounded his guests with the symols of love and dreams.

V&A