I had researched this bedframe for a long time thinking that it could be quite old.
Much of my research seemed to indicate that this could be as early as the 1600's. A few people have told me that it's 1800's. Maybe I'm stubborn, but I'd like to present some pictures to a wide community of people to hear feedback. I've marked the photographs with some of the clues that I see helpful for dating.
In addition to those clues, there are no nails to hold any two wood pieces together. I'm not familiar with the popularity and looks of paint types, but maybe some of you could distinguish eras revealed in paint layers. In person, I can see at least the following: an ugly top varnish, yellow, white, green, light blue, (in some places a grey), a light cream, and a bottom varnish (very dark in places). The wood type isn't distinguishable, but looks to possibly be Walnut.
Spool beds were very popular in England in the 1600's and early Americans were also making these. To me, many of the spools don't look very evenly shapen (maybe others have another opinion), which I understand would be the case in early America without extensive tool equipment.
It's difficult to conclude with concrete proof that this is or is not early American, because few people have expertise in rare early American pieces and few remain. But, from resources I've found, the wood types, joint types, etc. line up. Please don't dismiss this without looking closely. But, I would appreciate all feedback from the community. The differences between 1600's and 1800's is huge because of the historical significance and the stories that that furniture tells us.
