18th century
The framework of virtually every bed of the 18th century and early 19th century was held together by ropes. A bed key and peg, here made of oak or maple, were used to rope the bed: the ropes were passed through holes in the frame and the key was used to twist and tighten it. Then the peg was driven into the hole to keep the rope in place while the next section was tightened.
This is a remarkable set, beautifully made and preserved, and it is not common to have the peg survive as well as the key.
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