Mattresses Made With Feathers

History

• The history of feather mattresses can be traced way back to 14-century Europe, although only the wealthiest citizens could afford such a luxury, according to Old & Interesting website. By the 1800s, however, household servants began collecting feathers they plucked from ducks and geese, storing this dinnertime byproduct for the creation of a future mattress. Down served as better mattress material than feathers with sharp quills, such as chicken feathers. After a thorough drying and airing, the feathers would go into a finely-woven, tightly-sealed fabric container.

Construction

• Feather mattresses generally assume the form of "toppers." These thin pad-like mattresses sit on top of deeper mattresses that provide the primary support for the sleeper. Shoppers may have a choice of different mattress styles, including baffle box, baffle channel and gusset baffle box mattresses. Baffle box mattresses feature a series of sealed rectangular sections that hold the feathers in place and keep them from shifting, while baffle channel mattresses employ long vertical sections instead of rectangles. The gusset baffle box, a variation of the standard baffle box design, includes an extra flourish of fabric along the edges.

Advantages and Disadvantages

• Feather mattresses offer a soft and comfortable sleeping experience compared to ordinary foam or coil mattresses. Even when used in conjunction with a standard mattress, a top mattress of feathers may add a feeling of luxury and extra support. People who get insufficient or unsatisfactory sleep may find the addition of a feather mattress relieves the problem. The mattresses' softness also may enable older or weaker sleepers to move around more freely in bed. Disadvantages include the need for regular fluffing, the occasional poke from a stray feather and, in some cases, an unpleasant odor from a brand-new mattress, according to Sleep Like the Dead website.

Availability

• Shoppers can find a variety of feather mattress pads, toppers and other bedding products available for purchase. Manufacturers include Pike street, Sleep Innovations, Pacific Coast, Restful Nights and many others. Feather mattresses may come in twin, full, queen, king or California king sizes, and range from inexpensive pads to full bedding sets costing several hundred dollars.