Lot Essay
A rare survivor from when military officers brought custom furniture for their comfort while on campaign, this bed's luxurious exterior hides a practical and still working interior. It was once part of the celebrated art collection assembled by William Randolph Hearst (d. 1951) and displayed at his various residences including Hearst Castle, Ocean House and Wyntoon in California; Riverside Drive, Manhattan; Beacon Towers, Long Island as well as Saint Donat's in Wales. There were extensive sales of his collections in New York City beginning in 1938 (V. Kastner, Hearst Castle: The Biography of a Country House, 2000).