Stap

The Stap (禢) is a Themiclesian piece of upholstered furniture primarily used in the modern day as a bed. When used alone, the term stap refers only to the bed frame; the horizontal bedding is called ksreq (笫), while the hung upholstery is generally termed ghrul (帷). Staps are distinctive from most Casaterran beds in that they are designed to be easy to disassemble, since in Themiclesian culture the preferred sleeping location changes according to the season and with reference with architecture, and beds would be moved accordingly.

Structure

In terms of hard structure, it consists of a surface elevated by legs usually no more than 9 inches off the floor and panels or railings that surround that surface. It may additionally have posters and rafters to support a upholstered canopy over the surface, and the space between posters may additionally be filled by panels, making an enclosed Stap (篁禢); where the stap is enclosed, there is always a door to allow access and sometimes even windows to convenience communication without opening the door. The door may be lockable from the inside and may consist of a single or double panel door.

The usable surface of the stap is usually of a hard material, such as wood, so in the interest of comfort bedding is widely used, though anciently it seems the poor had to contend with a hard surface, if they possessed a bed at all. The usual layering is in this order:

• Rug
• Multiple layers of woven mattresses
• Stuffed mattress
• Quilt