Headboard

At a glance

• Family: Beds & Bedroom
• Periods most often found: Most cane and carved headboards date from 1870 to 1940, in Louis XV and XVI revival styles; iron headboards from 1880 to 1930.
• Typical price: about $700; range $200 to $2,500 and more for exceptional pieces
• What drives value: Width, cane condition, carving

What it is

An antique headboard alone, taken from a French bed, is the simplest way to bring a carved or caned bed into a modern bedroom. Typical models include Louis XVI cane panels with ribbon crests, carved walnut Louis XV headboards, painted and parcel-gilt headboards, and iron or brass headboards from the late 19th century.

How to identify and date it

Check the cane for breaks, sagging and amateur repairs; recaning is possible but costly. Look for losses in carving and for repainting over original painted surfaces. Measure the width: most French headboards fit a 140 cm (55 in) mattress, narrower than a US queen (60 in). Plan how to fix it to the wall or to a modern frame, as the original bolts are often for side rails.

Periods and styles

Most cane and carved headboards date from 1870 to 1940, in Louis XV and XVI revival styles; iron headboards from 1880 to 1930.

How much is it worth?

On the US retail market, most headboard examples ask around $700. Simple or worn pieces start near $200, while documented, signed or exceptional examples can pass $2,500. The main value drivers are: width, cane condition, carving. These are indicative ranges, not an appraisal; see our price guide for French antiques for the method.

Before you buy

• Measure width
• Inspect cane and carving
• Check paint
• Plan mounting

Living with it

Mount the headboard on the wall just above the mattress line and frame it with a pair of chevets or sconces.