A fine Elizabethan carved and inlaid oak panelled section of a bedhead, late 16th century

the frieze with cherub masks and foliate motifs, below are four panels, the central two panels with female lute players surrounded by scrolled cartouche decoration, each end panel inlaid with bog oak and holly foliate motifs, the panels flanked by pregnant caryatids terminating in acanthus and fruit

It is highly likely that this panel was incorporated into the panelled headboard of a tester bed, certainly the symbols of fruit, scantily clad female musicians and pregnant caryatids all demonstrate fecundity and would have been suitable decorations to have on an Elizabethan bed. The bed has sadly gone now, but value was obviously attributed to this salvaged panel guaranteeing its survival. It is likely that it more recently formed part of a decorative architectural scheme and may well have been part of an overmantel.