Baby's cot
Benjamin Edgington
Category
Childcare objects
Date
circa 1905
Materials
Canvas, muslin, wood and metal
Measurements
Canvas cot - 2060 mm (length); 1140 mm (width), Muslin cover - 1170 mm (length); 955 mm (width), Slat - 520 mm (length); 40 mm (width), Webbing - 70 mm (width)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 659180
Summary
A 'Shakespeare Cot' is made by the company Benjamin Edginton. ‘The Shakespeare cot’ is illustrated in the catalogue of the Army & Navy stores in 1905. A muslin cot cover, some cream webbing straps and a canvas cot and poles known as the 'Shakespeare Cot'. The Shakespeare Cot Bag is catalogued as inventory number 666262. The poles are catalogued as inventory numbers 662970 and 671277. The cream webbing straps are stitched together in an interlocking structure. The rectangular white muslin cover is edged with white braid from which hang small pom-poms at regular intervals. There are a few small holes in the muslin cover which has a seam running down the centre. Along the seam are five metal hooks. A canvas cot the sides and ends of which fold upwards. It is probable that two flat wooden slats pass through a sleeve at each end of the cot. At each end of each wooden slat is a wooden peg. These pegs slot through a brass eyelet in each side of the cot. The ends of the sides of the cot, have a vertical row of 7 brass eyelets, fold to meet one another and would lace together with a cord which is enclosed in a sleeve running the length of each side. A triangular shaped piece of canvas sewn onto the top of each end of the cot contains pockets for two poles which are not present. If they were, they would hold the whole cot up. Total number of items is 6.
Marks and inscriptions
On the brass eyelet on the canvas cot: 'BENJAMIN EDGINGTON' On the centre of the base of the canvas cot: '[ ] LONDON'
Makers and roles
Benjamin Edgington, maker