2 Staffordshire Baby in Cradles, c. 1800-1825

Price: 235

Sold by West Pelham Antiques

In the late 18th/early 19th centuries, Staffordshire potters made baby in a cradle whimsies. Purportedly, these were meant as christening gifts, to be given to the families of newborns. Sometimes the cradle had a bonnet and other times, the cradles were open. Here are examples of each form. There are also reports that the position of the baby’s head and if the baby’s eyes were open or closed are indicators of infant mortality. Here are examples of each form: one has no bonnet and the baby’s eyes are wide open and there is a smile on the little one’s face and a nice pink blanket (perhaps indicating it is a little girl). The second, with the bonnet, also has the baby’s eyes open and a floral decorated blanket. Both cradles have woven, basket-like surfaces, the open cradle in yellow and the bonneted cradle in white with a floral decoration. The cradle without a bonnet is 4 ½” long, 1 ¾” wide (at the widest) and 1 ¼” high; the cradle with the bonnet is 3 5/8” long, 1 ½” wide and 2 ½” high at the bonnet.Neither have maker’s markings. Condition on both is very fine or better,with only some very slight edge nibbling on the bonneted cradle. And as you can imagine, not too many survived.