Cradle
Category
Furniture
Date
1740 - 1770
Materials
Oak, cherry, walnut, rosewood, sycamore
Measurements
87 x 94 x 55 cm
Place of origin
Austria
Order this imageCollection
Benthall Hall, Shropshire
NT 509691
Caption
This oak rocking cradle is on display at Benthall Hall and was made for twins in the early 17th century but bears the date 1680, when it was presumably given to the two babies whose names, Elizabeth and John, are inscribed on each end.
Summary
An oak, marquetry and parquetry cradle, Austrian or South German, mid 18th century, the sides and ends with hexagonal panels, the uprights with finials and pierced rounded spandrels, on shaped rockers, the sides with inlays of birds and stellar motifs, at one end inlaid with the names Elizabeth and John and at the other end with the date 1680, incorporating various timbers including cherry, sycamore, walnut and rosewood and now with metal liner.
Provenance
Included on page 1 of the Inventory of Items On Loan To The National Trust For Benthall Hall dated 1st October 1963. Owned by Sir Arthur Paul Benthall (1902 – 1992). Bequeathed to The National Trust in the will of Sir Arthur Paul Benthall dated 28th July 1983. Accepted for ownership by The National Trust in 1993 following the death of Sir Arthur Paul Benthall in 1992.
Marks and inscriptions
Elizabeth and John 1680 (inlaid inscription to each end)