Card/Transcription No.: 047-1

47 Ebony Bedstead 1
Position:
Resting upon Lion Couch (No. 35) and probably in its original position.
Dimensions:
Max. L. 184.5 (Max. L. over feet 186.5), Max. H. foot-end 75.5, Max. H. head end 50, H. of
bed from ground in centre 36.5. W.90.
Description:
Carved ebony bedstead having thin sheet gold ornamentation, open work panels at foot-end
with incised painted text, and claw of silver.
The foot-end has three panels of carved open-work of Bes and rampant lions - these finely
carved ebony figures are fixed into the open panel by means of tongues top and bottom.
The design of each of these panels is the same - i.e., a central figure of Bes (front view) in
carved ebony, having lotus crown, headdress, and kilt in thin sheet gold; on either side of the
god is a rampant lion (profile) with fore-paws resting upon s3 emblems; the lions have similar
crowns and head-dresses to the God Bes. The protruding tongues of three figures are of ivory.
On the top rail and two outer sides stiles is a long text incised and filled in with yellow paint. It
reads from the centre as follows:-