Self-Swinging Cradle thumbnail 1
Self-Swinging Cradle thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Self-Swinging Cradle

ca. 1810 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Rocking and swinging movements have been incorporated into babies' cradles for centuries: the movement is thought to be soothing to the child and therefore conducive to sleep.

This cradle incorporates a high-tech solution of its era: a wooden case at one end contains a clock spring which, when wound up, would keep the cradle swinging evenly for much longer than a human being could. It is thought that the original intention was for the effect to last for an hour and a half: when the mechanism was last tested in 1952, it ran for 43 minutes.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 6 parts.

  • Cradle
  • Cradle
  • Cradle
  • Cradle
  • Cradle
  • Cradle
Materials and techniques
Wood, iron
Brief description
For a baby: wooden swinging cradle and stand, with a clockwork mechanism; probably made in England by William Hallinshed to a design by Sheraton, ca. 1810
Physical description
Wooden swinging cradle and stand, with a clockwork rocking mechanism. It is made from joined and turned wood, probably fruitwood, with iron fittings. The cradle suspends with iron loops between wood standards with horse feet. The head-post is of oval box form, containing clockwork swinging mechanism surmounted by a vasifor finial. Plain turned columnar foot standard with smaller vasiform finial. Turned posts connected at head and foot by shaped top rails and at the sides by plain straight top rails. Plain bottom rails connected in openwork with the top rails, at the ends by four moulded verticals, and at the sides by nine similar slats. Foot posts connected by thick rectangular stretcher fitted near the middle on either side, with a pair of iron looped buffers arresting excessive swing.
Dimensions
  • Height: 96cm
  • Length: 116cm
  • (stationary) width: 51cm
Extreme swing 66.5 cm
Object history
Purchased from Mrs G Langston, Sunset, Kington, Herefordshire (RPs 52/1612) for £25; stated by her to have been acquired in London. This object was originally acquired by the V&A's Furniture and Woodwork collection and later transferred to the V&A Museum of Childhood. When acquired in 1952, it was recorded that the clock-spring ran for forty-three minutes.
Production
Probably made by William Hollinshed to a design by Thomas Sheraton. William Hollinshed, Bedstead-maker, 56 Kings St, Long Acreis is recorded in 1835, but not in Sheratons (sic) London List 1803, or otherwise before 1835.
Summary
Rocking and swinging movements have been incorporated into babies' cradles for centuries: the movement is thought to be soothing to the child and therefore conducive to sleep.

This cradle incorporates a high-tech solution of its era: a wooden case at one end contains a clock spring which, when wound up, would keep the cradle swinging evenly for much longer than a human being could. It is thought that the original intention was for the effect to last for an hour and a half: when the mechanism was last tested in 1952, it ran for 43 minutes.
Collection
Accession number
W.50:1 to 5-1952

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Record createdDecember 2, 2008
Record URL
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