. . .which is what you do both figuratively and literally with this so-called Murphy bed. At first glance this handsome piece of vintage furniture appears to be a nice wood dresser.
It even has a pull-out bottom drawer.
However, open up the front panel and inside is concealed a folding bed. Although there were various types of fold-up bedsteads before, in the early 1900s William Lawrence Murphy received patents for a "disappearing bed." According to legend, Murphy wished to court a young lady, but was living in a single room apartment. At that time it would have been considered improper for a single man to invite a woman into his bedroom, so Murphy created his eponymous folding bed, thus converting his bedroom into a more proper parlor. Murphy beds became a popular space-saving device, either installed in a wall or hidden in a cabinet or dresser. In 1989, a federal appellate court held that because the term "Murphy Bed" had entered common usage, it was no longer eligible for trademark protection. Murphy or wall beds are still a popular option for small apartments and homes, often combined with other functions, such as shelving, storage or a home offce.
This example has nice art deco detailing on its handles.
All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!
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