Bier
After breathing his last on December 14, 1799, George Washington was buried four days later, in the old family tomb. Alexandria cabinetmakers Henry and Joseph Ingle built Washington’s coffin and leased a bier, coach, and horse for its conveyance. This bier is similar to that used in Washington’s funeral procession. Its pierced brackets and molded legs and rails resemble similar elements on fashionable chairs and tables of the day. When raised, the hinged shoulder rests enabled pallbearers to more comfortably transport the heavy burden it supported.
In his will, George Washington requested a private interment “without — parade, or funeral Oration.” Unable to let his death pass unhonored, his family members arranged a relatively modest funeral by the standards of the day. Alexandria cabinetmakers Henry and Joseph Ingle built Washington’s coffin and leased a bier, coach, and horse for its conveyance. This bier is similar to that used in Washington’s funeral procession. Its pierced brackets and molded legs and rails resemble similar elements on fashionable chairs and tables of the day. When raised, the hinged shoulder rests enabled pallbearers to more comfortably transport the heavy burden it supported.
The arms are joined to the side rails with iron hinges screwed onto the underside of both. The legs are tenoned into the side rails and single-pegged. The stretchers are tenoned into the legs and nailed in place. The brackets are glued in place and screwed in at their bases. The outer three medial rails on each side are joined to the side rails with sliding dovetails, while the inner pairs with the reeded rail and the central rail simply slide into a rectilinear slot.
Published ReferencesSumpter Priddy III and Ann Steuart, “Seating Furniture from the District of Columbia, 1795-1820,” American Furniture 2010 (Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Chipstone Foundation, Inc., 2010), 87-88.
