Rare Victorian Forum

We recently moved my Mother-in-law, and really started to look at some of the furniture she had acquired over the years. The majority is in storage, and her memory is fuzzy about where she picked everything up. This was one piece that she is particularly crazy about though. She says that she spent several thousands of dollars a couple of decades ago, and remembers that the maker was famous for something...but of course can't remember who or what. It is a bed, taken apart right now, and I could only manage a shot of the headboard with the shell??? in the middle, due to light and space constraints in the storage facility. I just thought this image may spark something in somebody...It's my 1st time on here, hopefully I execute this correctly. I've included a link below (may have to cut and paste) of a larger pic, and in case the image doesn't attach. I would also appreciate any tips, or direction on what else to look for to help identify maker/origin.

A common misconception is that anything with a central carving that is remotely egg-shaped was made by New Orleans furniture-maker/seller Prudent Mallard.  While the egg device is characteristic of Mallard, it is not exclusive to Mallard.  Below is a link to a photo of a bed attributed to Mallard showing his egg.  I'm wondering if the 'split egg' on your mother-in-law's bed may be the imagined link to that famous maker (not that Mitchell & Rammelsberg is any slouch!).

GoAntiques Mallardhttp://www.goantiques.com/scripts/images,id,2221474.html#image2