Ledikant

Ledikant is a bedstead or bed frame in Dutch and Afrikaans usage. Historically, the term refers to a large, robust bed, usually made of wood, with a headboard and footboard and, in some cases, four tall posts and additional elements such as a canopy or curtains. In Dutch interior furniture, ledikants were common from the 17th through the 19th centuries in households across the Low Countries and their colonies. The design varied, but many examples featured paneled sides and a mattress supported by slats or a sprung base. Some larger ledikants had ornamental carvings or inlays and were considered prominent pieces in a room, reflecting the status of the occupant.

The term is now primarily used in historical or museum contexts and in discussions of traditional furniture; in everyday modern Dutch, simply "bed" is more common. In Afrikaans, ledikant can also denote a bed or bedstead, and the word appears in genealogical or architectural descriptions of colonial-era South Africa. While many 19th-century houses shifted toward simpler, lighter frames, some collectors and restorers preserve or recreate ledikants to illustrate period interiors.