El Libertador’s Bed
British Making
Ca. 1820
Cabinetmaking (Wood and Bronze)
153 cm X 190 cm X 130 cm
Reg. 04-002

It is traditionally said that this bed was presented as a gift to El Libertador by a British friend of his named Powell, and that he lay on it the night political opponents failed in an attempt to assassinate him. This suggests that the bed was in San Carlos Palace, as much other pieces from the Quinta’s Bolivarian Collection.

“…As soon as they saw me they asked: “Where is Bolívar?” I told them he was in the Council, which was what first came to my mind; they checked the first room politely, but when they got to the second one and saw the open window they exclaimed: “He’s escaped, he’s safe!” I told them: “Why, misters, he’s not escaped, he’s in the Council”; they answered: “And why is the window open?”, “I just opened it to hear what the noise outside was”. Some believed what I said but others went to the other room and touched the warm bed, after what their desperation increased, no matter how much I insisted on that I was waiting for him to come back from the Council to give him a bath...”
Memoir of the conspiracy written by Manuela Sáenz for General O’Leary in September 1850.