Nighttime Necessities (RETIRED)

[marilyn2222]

This set was introduced in 1991. It was initially called the Brass Chamberstick & Bed Warmer set and was sold without the book. The name changed to Nighttime Necessities in 1993 when the book was added. The set retired about 2002.

PC description of Nighttime Necessities: Light Felicity's way to bed with a make-believe candle in a brass candlestick that has a dear little heart on its handle. Then warm the sheets of her bed with the brass bed warmer. Tuck her in and read her a passage from The Little Pretty Pocket Book - a favorite of children back in England and in the colonies.


Great. Candle wick breaks easily. B.

[Colonial Rose]

I have the second version of this set which included a book. The book is an adorable brown hardbound version of A Little Pretty Pocketbook and actually looks like it is the entire book not an abridged version, the print is small but legible. The bedwarmer brass with a wooden handle, the brass part opens up so you can put "coals" in it if you choose to make some. The candlestick is brass with a little heart on the handle, mine is a bit worn with age but still looks good. The candle is nice, the wick (which is easy to break off, mine came broken and they sent me a replacement so now I have a spare one) is black so it looks burned and the candle has drips down the sides. However mine didn't fit into the candlestick, just balanced on it, so I put a bit of hot glue on the end so it could go into the holder and be more stable. A

[Starbuck]

This is a great set. It may not be all pretty and girly like Elizabeth's set, but it is very functional and just what Felicity really would have had.

The candle: The detail on this thing, people! The molded wax drips! The blackened wick top! I love it. A+

The candle holder: A nice brass to match the hardware on Felicity's furniture. Mine needs some polishing, but it's sturdy and durable. The only downside is that the candle doesn't fit well in it and tends to flop to one side. There are various quick fixes for this -- I like to roll a tiny strip of paper around the candle base. A



The bedwarmer: Another nice piece. The brass and dark wood match Felicity's furniture, and there's a little triangle on the end to hang it from. Could be improved if it latched so that it didn't flop open all the time. Still an A though.





The book: A miniature reproduction of a period children's book. Hard to go wrong with this one. The cover's very plain, but that's how they were then, so I can't complain. The inside is perfect, fully readable with the original text and illustrations. So much love. A+

[QNPoohBear]

Mar 4, 2008 16:26:53 GMT -5 @wenonah4th said:

I think the bedwarmers might have been stored by a fireplace or under a bed during the day in the 18th century.

Your first assumption is correct. In the old houses I've seen, bedwarmers and foot stoves, like Kirsten's, are usually kept in front of the fireplace. At least here in New England, where it is almost always cold!

[maggiedoll]

Nighttime Necessities

Light Felicity’s way to bed with a make-believe candle in a brass candle stick that has a dear little heart on its handle. Make her bed toasty by warming the sheets with the brass bed warmer before you say goodnight to her. Tuck her in and read her a passage from The Little Pretty Pocket Book—a favorite of children back in England and in the colonies.
$18 EDA
Retired
(Book was not added to the set until 1993, prior to then the set was referred to as Brass Chamberstick & Bed Warmer $18)

I got this set from Ebay in 2009. It was not NIB and seemed in semi-played condition from the mid 1990s.

The bedwarmer is a historically correct reproduction that could range for the 17th to 19th century. It is made out of wood and metal. It is light and has a little hook so if able, it can hang from a wall. However, it is kind of hard for Felicity to hold it.

The bedwarmer opens so Felicity can store warm rocks or something. The problem is that the bedwamer opens way too easy. Also, over time it seems like the screws attacking the metal to the wood loosen.

The candle and candle holder are very detailed and realistic. The candle holder is metal, because mine has dulled over the years. It is too heavy for Felicity to hold but looks like it was made from an original. It is made to catch wax and has a cute heart detail that would appeal to a nine-year-old. The candle does not seem to be made out of wax, perhaps plastic. It is not bendable but looks like it has been used, with wax dipping. The "wick" also looks like it has been burning for a while.

The The Little Pretty Pocket Book has been reproduced in full (I think). It starts at the title page and introduction and goes though the alphabet. It's a cute little children's book with Purtian-like verses ("If proferous, of Pride beware; Changes of Fortune frequent are.") The book even has period appropriate printing, spelling and grammar. The book itself is made with brown leather like material and can be fit with much work and little comfort in Felicity's pocket.

This nighttime accessories is one of the Felicity's best PM sets. It is historically correct and can be used for other time periods and very pretty to display. It is a little high maintenance, with the bed warmer and candle holder prone to tarnishing. Keep in mind that it may not age perfectly well even if it is NIB. However, Felicity probably did not have brand new things herself. I do believe that it is worth the pretty Ebay penny and is needed in any Felicity bedchamber. A+

[Mod edit to remove dead image links throughout review.

[Deleted]

[keeperofthepast]

i only have the chamberstick but it is darling with the little heart on the handle. The brass has stayed nice and shiny.

[keeperofthepast]

Since I last reviewed this I have purchased Felicity's bed warmer. It is a wonderfully made piece. The handle is carved wood and the metal portion is brass. It's a great display piece on my new canopy bed.


Canopy bed and bedwarmer by Laura *, on Flickr