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Antique Asian Beds - Sleeping in Style

Please scroll down to see our available antique Asian beds.

History of Antique Asian Beds:

In the ancient Chinese concept, a bed was a piece of furniture for people to sit and lie on, not just for sleeping. The word literally translates to mean "a seat or platform for one to settle down on." Thus a bed can refer to furniture that plays a supporting and steadying function.

The Chinese are usually credited with the original crafting of a raised platform to be used for both sitting and sleeping. This occurred around 475 BCE to 221 BCE during the Warring States Period. Before this time, a heated “kang“ was used. A kang is a platform built with clay bricks, heated with a fire underneath, and covered with woven mats. The following evolution of Chinese bed design brought people from the floor to sleeping and entertaining in elaborately carved and gilded bed chambers.

Traditional Chinese Bed Designs:

The first type of antique Chinese bed to be crafted was the simple raised platform with a woven mat for sitting and sleeping, also known as a Chinese daybed.
This design was followed by a more complex (and comfortable) raised platform with railings and/or sides. This type of Chinese bed is often referred to as a lohan bed. Other terms used are arhat bed, Buddha bed, or monk bed. During the 1800’s this type of bed also became associated with opium use and is thus also termed “opium beds”.
Following the platform bed, framed beds followed. These resemble the western four-poster, covered bed.
The most elaborate Chinese bed had enclosed bed chambers with intricately carved and hand-painted panels. They often included a sitting area and wardrobe storage area.

Oriental Beds for sale:

Silk Road Collection is pleased to offer these traditional Chinese beds and antique Asian beds:


Antique Chinese Canopy Wedding Bed with Alcove circa 1850, Zhejiang Province China, Mixed Woods Price: $40,000.00				Antique Ming Dynasty Chinese Day Bed circa 1500's, Shanxi Province China, Softwood Price: $5,000.00


Antique Chinese Opium Bed Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), China, Price: $4,950.00				Ming Dynasty Antique Chinese Single Bed Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), China, Wood Price: $3,750.00


Wood Coffee Table Early Qing Dynasty, Shanxi Province China, Elm Price: $3,600.00				Asian Antique Ta Bed circa 1825-1850, Southern China, Mixed Soft Woods Price: $3,500.00


Ming Style "Doggie" Daybed Contemporary, Beijing China, Elm (Yumu) Price: $2,850.00				Chinese Lohan or Daybed Contemporary, China, Elm (Yumu) Price: $2,250.00