Lits-jumeaux van eiken- en grenenhout en zwart getint without c. 1920

Curator: Here we have a bed frame from around 1920 designed by Piet Kramer, the 'Lits-jumeaux van eiken- en grenenhout en zwart getint'. Editor: It has such a serene, almost stoic presence. That unadorned wood feels incredibly grounding. I am fascinated by these beds. Curator: Well, that grounded feeling is rather interesting. Kramer's use of oak and deal wood, stained black, is very much of the Arts and Crafts movement, aiming to reject the ornate and embrace honest materials. The wood itself would've been locally sourced, adding to that connection with the earth and local community. Editor: The decision to expose the wood’s inherent grain feels significant too. Every imperfection, every knot tells a story of its life. There is labor and purpose inherent within its materiality, wouldn't you say? Curator: Precisely. In terms of symbolism, I’d add the twins motif, 'Lits-jumeaux', it implies a narrative around partnership, mirroring, or even duality. The bedframe is not just a functional object; it's suggesting themes of shared space and companionship, the foundation for rest as an intimate and deeply social practice. Editor: Yes, especially that visual symmetry creates a really comforting feel of balanced energies in the design itself! I can also feel the weight of tradition as its production gestures to the craftsman’s studio versus the factory production lines of its time. The labor required to treat, cut, construct all the pieces is quite striking! Curator: It does raise important questions about where our objects come from and what they represent culturally. Kramer really encapsulates an ethos we should probably reconsider. Editor: Exactly! An honest creation of its materials! Well, it has certainly given me a new appreciation for the hidden stories held within such 'simple' forms. Curator: I agree. This quiet bedframe speaks volumes about materials and shared slumber.