In Brittany, the closed-bed (French: lit-clos) (Breton: gwele-kloz) is a traditional furnishing. In homes with usually only one room, the box-bed allowed some privacy and helped keep people warm during winter. Similar enclosed bed furniture was once also found in western Britain; Devon, Cornwall, Wales particularly in Gower.
Some closed-beds were built one above the other in a double-decker, two-story arrangement. In this case, young people would sleep above.
It was the main furniture of rural houses in Brittany until the 20th century. Often carved and decorated, it was the pride of its owners.
Closed-beds were 1.60 to 1.70 m (5b'3" to 5' 9") length, long enough for people of that region who were rather small. And because they slept in an almost sitting position, they leaned on three or four pillows. It was the tradition of the Middle Ages not to sleep lying down, because that is the position of the dead and of effigies.
Later out of fashion and because they were expensive to make, box-beds were gradually abandoned in the 19th and 20th centuries. Fine pieces were put in museums, while most of them were converted into bookshelves, dressers or TV cabinets. In the 21st century, rental companies offer nights in authentic box-beds. The contemporary Breton designers Erwan and Ronan Bouroullec have reinterpreted the form with their lit-clos, 2000 for Galerie kreo.
Box-beds were also used to protect people of the home from the animals (pigs, hens) also living in the house. In Breton culture, the box-bed was also believed to offer protection against wolves.
Original website here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box-bed
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