Rope Wrench

Wrope wrench or bedkey

Wrope wrench or bedkey

Name/Title

Rope Wrench

Entry/Object ID

MHMB0016C

Description

Wrench used to tighten the rope lattice on a rope bed

Use

Invented in the 16th century, rope beds became a standard furnishing for bedrooms in Europe and the Americas into the 19th century. The rope lattice served the modern purpose of box springs and supported the mattress and the sleeper. Over time, the ropes needed to be tightened on a regular basis with a bed wench to keep the sleeping platform firm. Beds also required periodic restringing. The invention of the coil spring mattress in 1865 offered an alternative to the rope bed.

Furniture Details

Furniture Type

Bedframe

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1750 - circa 1865

Time Period

18th Century, 19th Century

Dimensions

Height

9-1/2 in

Width

2-1/4 in

Length

1-3/4 in

Dimension Notes

Handle at top is 8-3/4 in

Color

Brown

Web Links and URLs

Rope Bed

Create Date

August 27, 2023

Update Date

September 25, 2024