Viking Bed Parts
There are a total of nine pieces plus two ropes. Note the rope is left on the side rails when the bed is disassembled.
by Lambert
This rope bed was patterned after a more complex reconstruction of a Viking slat bed shown on page 140 and the front jacket cover of From Viking to Crusader; E. Rosedahl and D.M. Wilson, editors; Rizzoli, New York. 1992.
The pleasures of a real bed for camping can not be overrated!
Viking Bed Parts
There are a total of nine pieces plus two ropes. Note the rope is left on the
side rails when the bed is disassembled.
Head Carvings
My Lady wanted to sleep with lambs, not dragons!
Assembled Bed
The ropes hold the bed together. There are two ropes, one lengthwise and one crosswise, which are woven over and under one another. Be sure to have
an even number of holes for the ropes in each section so that the ends come out
together and can be tied. Tighten the ropes every other day or so to keep the
bed firm. The headboard keeps the frame rigid and prevents the pillow from popping out.
Another View of Assembled Bed
A mattress is needed to keep the side rails from bending in. Otherwise, the
1" thick lumber is sufficiently strong for a single bed and makes it very
portable. The 1" lumber also better matches the appearance of the
reconstructed Viking bed than would 2" lumber. This bed takes a standard single futon or air mattress.
An excellent web site offering plans for
a variety of medieval-style camping furniture
including Viking-style beds is Medieval
Pavilion Resources.