1930s-1940s Brazilian Doll Beds

12

Love it

0

Like it

See 10 more

Add to collection

Add to collection

These are wooden doll beds made in Brazil in the late 1930s, early 1940s. They are miniatures of a popular bed called "cama-patente" (patent bed). This hardwood bed is considered the first design furniture produced in Brazil. It was designed in 1915 by a Spanish immigrant, Celso Martinez Carrera, a cabinet maker that worked for a railway company in the city of Araraquara - SP. The bed was a commission from a local doctor who needed beds for his newly opened hospital. WWI interrupted the imports of many products from Europe including the English iron beds used then. Mr. Carrera developed this easy to assemble, three-parts bed made out of cheaper-than-iron wood, with a spring frame to make it more confortable to use with the cheap straw mattresses used by most of the population. The affordable bed was an instant success and Mr. Carrera started his furniture business. But he made a huge mistake: he didn't patent his design. Another immigrant, an Italian named Luigi Liscio patented Carrera's design in 1920 and Celso Carrera had to stop making his own creation. Luigi Liscio named the bed "Cama Patente" (Patent Bed) for this reason, and made the product the most popular bed in Brazil at the time. He sold millions of them throughout the country and even in Europe and US. The L. Liscio & Company S.A. closed its doors in 1968. These doll beds follow a later Liscio's company design (from the late 1930s), being easy to disassemble and reproducing the curious spring frame (which was famous for the squeaky noises it made) and other details. First picture shows a single bed from late 1930s-early 1940s (unknown maker), with turned bed posts, while the second picture show a later model made by an obscure toy factory called Fábrica de Brinquedos Pompéia (Pompeii Toy Factory), owned by two gentleman by the name "Granzotti & Martinelli". The bed posts are simple wood cilinders with bakelite finials fixed with nails. The third picture shows another early model, unknown maker, with wood turned posts and wood finials fixed with brass screws. They are all different designs, with different sizes. First one is 20,5 inches (L) x 10,5 inches (W) x 12 inches (H). Second one is 17,5 in. (L) X 10 in. (W) X 11,5 in. (H). Third one is 21 in. (L) X 12 in. (W) X 10 in. (H). Last picture shows them all. For those who want to know more about this interesting object, google "Cama Patente" to see images of the actual bed. Merry Christmas to all CW friends!