1895 Museum-Quality Quarter-Sawn Tiger Oak 4-Piece Bedroom Suite – Documented Provenance

Details

Description

Offered for sale is a breathtaking, authentic 4-piece 1895 bedroom suite crafted from spectacular quarter-sawn tiger oak. This matching, unadulterated … Read more Offered for sale is a breathtaking, authentic 4-piece 1895 bedroom suite crafted from spectacular quarter-sawn tiger oak. This matching, unadulterated set includes a full-size bed (headboard and footboard), a dresser, a tall chest of drawers, and a bedside wash table.
This suite features dramatic steam-bent serpentine drawer fronts, highly pronounced original tiger oak grain, and intricate floral woodwork appliques. It is a surviving piece of 19th-century American craftsmanship. I am firmly committed to preserving its history; this suite will only be sold to a collector or designer who respects antique preservation and intends to cherish the original, unpainted wood.
Documented Provenance & History:
This suite carries extraordinary historical pedigree. The original 1890s railroad freight receipt is still nailed to the back of the wood. The tag bears a diamond stamp reading "701 W. Kinzie St. Chicago" alongside an "Order No.," indicating it was an early luxury mail-order purchase shipped via rail from Chicago's booming pre-1909 catalog district.
The freight tag is addressed to "Mrs. Mattie Patton" in "Cabot, Ark." Historical census records place Mattie Hays Patton (born 1882) in Cabot, Arkansas. Her father served in the Civil War under Confederate Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest. On June 1, 1904, Mattie married the general's grandson, Nathan Bedford Forrest II. Because this freight tag bears her maiden name, it acts as an ironclad historical timestamp, proving the suite was shipped to her prior to her 1904 wedding. This furniture was a silent witness to her life, and later to the life of her son, Nathan Bedford Forrest III, who became a highly decorated WWII hero.
Condition (Good - Minor TLC Required):
This suite is being sold "as-is" in its authentic, original state.
The Glass: The original 1890s mirrors are perfectly intact, in excellent condition, and require nothing more than a light dusting. All attached mirrors sit at the exact same height as the headboard or slightly lower.
The Woodwork: The wood requires very minor structural TLC. Specifically, a simple woodwork glue-up is needed on the wash table's mirror mount and a few pieces of trim on the footboard. All original trim pieces are fully accounted for, safely bagged, and included with the sale, making this an easy job for a conservationist.
Hardware: The original bed rails are missing. However, modern replacement hook-on bed frames and conversion kits are readily available online through Wayfair, Walmart, or Amazon. You can easily purchase an adjustable conversion frame that allows you to attach this historic headboard and footboard directly to a modern Queen or King-size mattress!
Dimensions:
Bed: Headboard stands 76” H (Originally built for a full-size mattress)
Dresser: 42” W x 20” D x 33” H (to the countertop)
Chest of Drawers: 33” W x 20” D x 45” H (to the countertop)
Wash Table: 34” W x 20” D x 27” H (to the countertop)
(Note: Local pickup is available. If purchasing out-of-state, the buyer is responsible for all white-glove shipping and freight arrangements via Chairish). See less