Outstanding Gothic Revival Bed Makes Significant Addition to Museum�s Collection of American Decorative Arts

The Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) has recently acquired a monumental 19th�century bed that was originally destined for the White House and is regarded as one of the finest surviving examples of American Gothic Revival furniture.

Measuring more than 13 feet high, 7 feet 5 inches wide and almost 9 feet long, the piece was commissioned in 1844 for Henry Clay during his presidential campaign by his Whig Party supporters and made by Crawford Riddell of Philadelphia.

The bed was specifically designed for the room that is now known as the "Lincoln Bedroom," which served as the presidential bedroom until about 1900. Clay, who ran for President three times and was known as "The Great Compromiser" for his peacekeeping abilities, seemed a shoo-in in 1844, but lost the election in the final weeks of his campaign due to his wavering on the question of the annexation of the Republic of Texas into the Union.

The bed, like Clay, never made it to the White House. In 1845 it was sold to Clay's friend Daniel Turnbull, who, in order to accommodate it, was forced to add a new wing to his plantation house, Rosedown, in St. Francisville, La. The bed has remained there ever since, and in the early 1960s the house and its contents were sold to new owners.

The bed, constructed of rare Brazilian rosewood, poplar, and pine, features exquisite carving and embodies classic features of Gothic Revivalism. An intricate high-backed headboard and skillfully crafted posts incorporate Gothic vaulted arches and signature symmetrical design. Official architecture, such as London's Houses of Parliament built between 1834 and 1860, stimulated the Gothic Revival movement on an international scale, and the style was seen as a symbolic reappraisal of medieval social and religious qualities.

"This bed is a captivating object combining beauty with a fascinating history. It will excite dedicated decorative art enthusiasts and will encourage new audiences to look at this area of the arts from a fresh perspective" stated Dr. Jack Lane, The Eugene McDermott director at the DMA. "It is a masterful example of Gothic Revival furniture and makes an important contribution to the Museum�s exemplary American decorative arts collection."

"As an object of superior craftsmanship and powerful historical significance, this bed will have a breathtaking visual impact in the Museum's American galleries. It will provide a benchmark for interpretation of the antebellum era in American history," added Stephen Harrison, Associate Curator of Decorative Arts at the Museum.

The Gothic Revival bed was purchased for the DMA by three anonymous donors, the Museum's General Acquisitions Fund, the Friends of Decorative Arts Fund, the Discretionary Decorative Arts Fund, and gifts from the Boshell Family Foundation.

The Dallas Museum of Art houses diverse collections ranging from ancient Egyptian sculptures to abstract expressionist paintings. Covering an area of over 370,000 square feet, the Museum accommodates galleries dedicated to the arts of the Americas, arts of Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the art of Europe, Contemporary Art, a Sculpture Garden and the Gateway Gallery Family Education Area. In addition to the growing permanent collections, the Museum annually schedules a number special exhibitions and comprehensive educational programs for adults and children.

About the DMA

The DMA is located in the Arts District of downtown Dallas between Harwood and St. Paul streets and is accessible from Woodall Rodgers Freeway. Garage parking is available. Admission to the Museum's permanent collection is free. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Thursday, the museum is open until 9 p.m. The Museum is closed Mondays, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

The DMA is supported in part by the generosity of DMA members and by the citizens of Dallas through the City of Dallas. Season Underwriters are Anonymous, American Airlines, the City of Dallas, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, The Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Museum of Art League, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Faulconer, The Hoffman Family Foundation, Barbara Thomas Lemmon, Mr. and Mrs. Irvin L. Levy, Howard E. Rachofsky, Deedie Potter and Edward W. Rose III, Southwest Airlines Co., and the Gayle and Paul Stoffel Foundation.