2-832-762 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

A wooden four poster bed frame with head board and foot board. The side rails screw into the frame providing greater strength and limited hiding places for vermin. This type of corded frame, invented by African-American inventor, carpenter, and a master mechanic Henry Boyd, is known as the "Boyd Bedstead." Boyd (1802-1866) was born a slave in Kentucky. His profits from his carpentry work allowed him to buy his own and his family's freedom.