Nursing chair
Category
Childcare objects
Date
circa 1860 - circa 1869
Materials
Wood and canvas-work
Measurements
490 mm (width); 910 mm (height); 520 mm (depth)
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 665817
Summary
A nursing chair dating from the 1860s, made from 'ebonised' (stained to mimic ebony) wood and with an upholstered seat and back. The chair is used by a breastfeeding mother and has no arms to allow for greater freedom of movement and position when holding the baby. It has a low seat and a high, shaped back. Both the seat and the back are upholstered with canvas-work panels decorated with roses and rose leaves on a pale brown coloured background. A twisted braid cord surrounds the two panels. Surrounding each panel is a padded, black silk ruched border. This is very badly worn and the silk is frayed and missing in places revealing the kapok (possibly) padding beneath. The back of the chair is upholstered in black silk. The back legs are shaped and the front two are turned and taper towards the castors. It is also possible that this may be a 'prayer chair, as chairs of this type are typically upholstered, had a low seats and look much like a nursing chair.