A striking piece of 19th-century design with deep historical ties is about to come under the hammer at Christie’s London. On July 1, the auction house will present a rare Victorian gilt-metal, cut-crystal, and ruby glass four-poster bed as part of The Exceptional Sale. Attributed to the Birmingham-based firm F. & C. Osler and dating back to around 1880–1890, the bed is believed to have been commissioned by an Indian royal family during the height of Britain’s colonial presence in the subcontinent.
Estimated at GBP 100,000 to 150,000, the four-poster bed has been constructed with faceted posts joined by silver-plated, cut-crystal rails adorned with alternating crescent moon and star motifs. Each corner is finished with a bold decorative boss, while the headboard and footboard include turned columns topped with detailed pineapple and trefoil finials.
A faceted frieze with a central geometric pattern adds another layer of texture above the headboard, set against a gilt background that continues across the lower part of the footboard. Crenellated motifs, double-sphere pendants, and four tapering legs complete the design. The bed is accompanied by a later crimson buttoned velvet coverlet and shows signs of replacements and restorations.
Casey Rogers, Senior Vice President and International Specialist Head of 19th Century Furniture & Sculpture at Christie’s, said, “The Exceptional Sale at Christie’s continues to be the premier auction venue for the iconic, rare and often unusual and we are delighted to present this marvelous suite of solid crystal furniture by the Birmingham-based firm F.C. Osler which is nothing short of all three. Not only were these objects extremely costly during the time of their manufacture in the 1880s, but they immediately exuded opulence to those with the means to acquire them. And we continue to marvel at them today as they appear like glittering, prismatic gems.”
Its dimensions—99 inches high, 55 inches wide, and 95.25 inches deep—make it a substantial and visually commanding object. But beyond its physical presence, it stands as a symbol of an era when royal households in India were commissioning bespoke European furnishings to fill newly built palaces. In 2014, the piece was handled by Oliver Forge and Brendan Lynch Ltd., and it now returns to the public eye with renewed relevance.
“Osler opened a Calcutta based-showroom in the latter part of the 19th century, specifically catering to Maharajahs and Indian elite who were embarking on palatial building programs. Most excitingly, examples of Osler’s stunning crystal designs remain in India to this day, including in the world-famous Crystal Gallery at Fateh Prakash Palace in Udaipur,” said Ms. Rogers.
This bed isn’t just about design, it’s about context. F. & C. Osler became known for its crystal lighting and furniture, which found a specific market in colonial India, where wealth and influence were often displayed through European luxury imports. The presence of such an object in The Exceptional Sale is a reminder of how design, commerce, and power intersected during the colonial period. With its documented provenance and Osler’s historical relevance, this bed is expected to draw interest not just for its visual appeal, but for what it represents: an object shaped by aspiration, empire, and craftsmanship.
