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89

Elijah Dale Texas Walnut Day Bed

Currency:USD Category:Antiques Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,000.00 USD
Elijah Dale Texas Walnut Day Bed
All items sold as is where is. See photos for condition, email info@burleyauction.com or call 830-629-9280 (Prior to sale day) if you have specific condition questions.
Walnut, no mattress, 30'' by 79'' This middle to late 19th Century walnut daybed measures 28” x 30-3/4” x 79”. This handmade Texas piece is attributed to the craftsmanship of Elijah Valentine Dale. It is crafted somewhat in the style of the Empire period. However, unlike Empire period daybeds, the headboards and footboards are open, suggesting an Elizabethan Revival influence. Cabinetmakers also referred to this style of daybed as French or Grecian couches. To that end, the three rails contained beveled molding on the top and bottom edges, suggesting the piece was designed to be the place against a wall as there was definitely a front and backside. The daybed is quite similar in design and construction to the one more particularly described and photographed on pages 52 & 53, respectively, of “Early Texas Furniture and Decorative Arts”. The bedposts are constructed of 1-3/8” x 6” stock and are assembled with mortise and tenon joinery. Like the “Collier daybed”, the crest rail has been planned and projects at the same curvature as that of the bedposts. The crest rails are slightly recessed by 1/8” to the posts. The 7/8” x 4-3/8” x 28” middle rails are scrolled on top and bottom in the front of opposing cyma curves. The rails measure 1-1/4” x 5” x 67” and are mortised to accept 10 four inch wide slats. The 10 slats rest on two 1” x 2” strips on pine which are attached to the rails by cut nails. The bedposts contain two cyma curves one above and one below the location where the rail tenons into the post. The curves terminate at the location
Provence: Elijah Valentine Dale was born to Jarvis Dale and his wife, Barbra Banks on February 14, 1807 in Georgia. At the age of 29, Elijah migrated to Texas in February of 1836. A few days following his arrival, he enlisted in the volunteer Texan Army at Matagorda. He served as a private under Colonel Burleson’s Company A, commanded by Captain William Woods until 1837 and was present at the Battle of San Jacinto. In 1842, he served in the Somervell Expedition. Later he served in Colonel Jack Hayes’ company in the Mexican War and was present at the Battle of Monterrey. For his military service, he received land in Bexar, Bosque and DeWitt counties. On August 7, 1855, he married Jane Johnson in Seguin. In the late 1850’s and early 1860’s he lived at Pleasanton in Atascosa County. By 1870, Elijah and Jane were living in Comal County. By 1880, he and Jane were living in Guadalupe County. At some point in time, he sold lightning rods in Seguin. He died June 17, 1896 in Seguin at the age of 89.
Mr. Jeff Merrill acquired the bed at an estate sale in 2008 near Seguin. Mr. Merrill was told the bedstead came from the Darst family and was once the family log house. The Darst’s were DeWitt colonists, arriving in Texas in 1831. Jacob Darst received a 24/25th sitio in Guadalupe County with the south boundary as the Guadalupe River. At some point the family resided in Gonzales. Jacob was one of eighteen men present at the Battle of Gonzales on October 2, 1835. On March 1, 1836 Jacob Darst was one of the 32 men from Gonzales that answered Colonel Fannin’s plea for re-enforcements. Darst and 188 other men were present during the siege and fall of the Alamo. On March 6, 1836 Jacob Darst was slain defending the Alamo. Jacob’s son, David was a merchant in Gonzales, while his two grandsons, John (a miller) and James (a tinsmith) also reside in Gonzales. GBG acquired the daybed from Jeff Merrill in June 2010.
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