18th Century Material Culture

Infant Furniture
Wicker
Cradles
 Dutch Interior
by Ferdinand Bol c. 1635 - 1642
(The British Museum)
Illustration to John Gay’s “Fables, Volume I, No. III:”
Drawn by William Kent c. 1685 - 1727
(The British Museum)
 Vrouw naast een wieg waarin een baby ligt,
by Jan Luyken, weduwe Pieter Arentsz & Cornelis van der Sys (II) 1711
(Rijksmuseum)
Dutch Interior of a Mother Attending Her Children
by Willem van Mieris c. 1728
(Private Collection)
Gerard Anne Edwards Hamilton (1732–1773), in His Cradle
by William Hogarth c. 1732
(National Trust)
Illustration to Richardson's Pamela
by Gravelot 1742
(The British Museum)
 Dutch Peasant Interior
by Christian Josi, After Adriaen van Ostade c. 1759 - 1760
(The British Museum)
 Dutch Wicker Cradle
by Hermanus Numan c. 1760 - 1800
(Rijksmuseum)
 Dutch Wicker Cradle
by Hermanus Numan c. 1760 - 1800
(Rijksmuseum)
“OPPRESSION display’d”
London 1763
(Lewis Walpole Library)
“THE SCOTCH CRADLE, or the CALEDONIAN NURSE”
London 1764
(Lewis Walpole Library)
 “Hester Maria Thrale aged 20 months”
by Giuseppe Marchi, After Johan Joseph Zoffany 1766
(The British Museum)
A Family Group Knitting Outside a Cottage
by Paul Sandby
(Christie’s Auction House)
A Family Group Knitting Outside a Cottage
by Paul Sandby
(Christie’s Auction House)
“THE BATTLE OF THE CATAPLASM”
by James Bretherton c. 1773 - Reissued in 1799
(Lewis Walpole Library)
 French Book Plate
by Joseph de Longueil, After Clement Pierre Marillier 1774
(The British Museum)
 “BUMBARDIAN”
by Matthew Darley 1774
(The British Museum)
 “THE STATE NURSES”
by H. Humphrey, London 1784
(Lewis Walpole Library)
 “THE STATE NURSES”
by H. Humphrey, London 1784
(Lewis Walpole Library)
 “THE STATE NURSES”
by H. Humphrey, London 1784
(The British Museum)
“THE DEVONSHIRE AMUSEMENT.”
by John Wallis 1784
(The British Museum)
 Interior Scene
by Johannes Huibert Prins c. 1780 - 1800
(Rijksmuseum)
The Fable of the Nurse and the Wolf
Illustration by Thomas Berwick 1781
(The British Museum)
The Fable of the Nurse and the Wolf
Illustration by Thomas Berwick 1782
(The British Museum)
 The Fable of the Nurse and the Wolf
Illustration by Thomas Berwick c. 1785 - 1790
(The British Museum)
 A Nursery Scene
by Benjamin West 1784
(The British Museum)
“The Duchess of D------- in the Character of a Mother.”
1784
(The British Museum)
 English Wicker & Wood Cradle Reported to have been used by Peregrine White
Reportedly Brought to Massachusetts on the Mayflower by Susanna & William White 1620
(Pilgrim Hall Museum - Photo by Jim Steinhart)
Wood
Cradles
American Cradle from Barnstable or Yarmouth, Massachusetts
c. 1665 - 1685
(Private Collection)
 American Green Painted Cradle
Descended in the Family of Governor Hinckley of Barnstable, Massachusetts c. 1665 - 1685
(Private Collection)
American Oak Cradle from Suffolk County, Massachusetts
c. 1640 - 1690
(Metropolitan Museum of Art)
 English Oak Cradle
Dated 1706
(Antique & Art Exchange)
 English Oak Cradle
18th Century
(Anderson & Garland)
“A DOMINO FACTUM” - A Broadside Praising the Election of Palatine Frederick V as King of Bohemia
1619
(The British Museum)
 Rosalie (French)
by Louis Michel Halbrou, After Clement Pierre Mrillier c. 1775 - 1778
(The British Museum)
American Cherry Cradle from Pennsylvania
c. 1780 - 1799
(Victoria & Albert)
American Walnut Cradle from Virginia or North Carolina
c. 1730 - 1790
(Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)
American Painted Cradle from Pennsylvania (Berks or Lancaster County)
German / Dutch Influence 18th Century
(East Meets West Antiques)
“THE STATE NURSES”
by Thomas Colley 1781
(The British Museum)
English Oak Cradle
17th Century
(Sotheby’s)
 English Cradle
18th Century
(Canterbury Auction Gallery)
English Painted Oak Cradle
c. 1640
(Liz Spradling Antiques)
 English Oak Cradle
Late 17th - Early 18th Century
(Christie’s South Kensington)
 English Oak Cradle
Early 18th Century
(Morphets of Harrogate)
American Walnut, Tulip, & Poplar Cradle from Pennsylvania or New Jersey
c. 1740 - 1800
(Winterthur)
Southeast American Southern Pine Cradle
c. 1775 - 1825
(Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)
American Mahogany & Eastern White Pine Cradle from New York
1757
(Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)
 American Pine Cradle
c. 1780
(Wakefield - Scearce Galleries)
American Elm Cradle
18th Century
(Private Collection)
 “THE WELCH CURATE”
by Carington Bowles, After Robert Dighton c. 1770 - 1785
(The British Museum)
 “The WELCH CURATE”
by Carington Bowles, After Robert Dighton c. 1770 - 1785
(The British Museum)
 English Cradle
c. 1770
(Private Collection)
English Painted Oak Cradle
18th Century
(Andrew Smith & Son)
 Servant Dressing Children
by Pierre-Louis Dumesnil c. 1730
(Musée Carnavalet)
American Southern Yellow Pine Cradle
c. 1750 - 1810
(Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)
American Mahogany Crib Bedstead from Virginia
c. 1750 - 1770
(Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)
American Mahogany Crib Bedstead from Virginia
c. 1750 - 1770
(Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)
“His Highness Prince George, Eldest Son to his Royal Highness Frederick Prince of Wales...”
by John Simon c. 1738 - 1742
(The British Museum)
Leather Covered
Wood Cradles
American Leather Covered Mahogany & White Pine Cradle Decorated with Brass Tacks from New York
Dated 1762
(Metropolitan Museum of Art)
American Leather Covered Pine Cradle Decorated with Brass Tacks from Boston, Massachusetts
Marked “JGW” and “1727”
(Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)
 American Leather Covered Pine Cradle Decorated with Brass Tacks from New York
Decorated “1749”, The Year of Maria Sanders’ Birth, Branded “RS” for Robert Sanders, Her Father
(Historic Cherry Hill)
Cradle
Models
English Lead Glazed Earthenware Cradle Model
c. 1700 - 1710
(Victoria & Albert)
English Lead Glazed Earthenware Cradle Model from Staffordshire
c. 1700
(Christie’s)
English Lead Glazed Earthenware Cradle Model from Staffordshire
by John Meir 1708
(Christie’s)
 English Slip Decorated Lead Glazed Earthenware Cradle Model
“made By Ralph / Shaw october the / 31 Cobridg gate / MT / 1740”
North Staffordshire, 1740
(Stoke - On - Trent)
English Salt Glazed Stoneware Cradle Model from Staffordshire
For Thomas Smith c. 1740 - 1750
(Victoria & Albert)
English Salt Glazed Stoneware Cradle Model from Staffordshire
For Thomas Smith c. 1740 - 1750
(Victoria & Albert)
English Tin Glazed Earthenware Miniature Cradle
1736
(Winterthur)
English Tin Glazed Earthenware Miniature Cradle
1736
(Winterthur)
English Tin Glazed Earthenware Miniature Cradle
1736
(Winterthur)
 English Earthenware Miniature Cradle
Bovey Tracey Pottery, Devon Late 18th Century
(John Howard)
English Green Glazed Earthenware Miniature Cradle
Late 18th Century
(John Howard)
Dutch Miniature Silver Wicker Cradle
by Martinus van Erkel 1784
(Rijksmuseum)
High Chairs
English Walnut High Chair
Late 17th Century
(Christie’s)
English Oak High Chair
Late 17th Century
(Tennants Auctioneers)
English or European High Chair with Stool
Late 17th Century
(Case Antiques)
American High Chair of Black Walnut from Virginia
c. 1700 - 1750
(Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)
American Bannister Back High Chair with Spanish Feet from Connecticut
c. 1710 - 1720
(Museum of Fine Arts, Boston)
American Ladder Back High Chair
18th Century
(Hyde Park Country Auctions)
American Ladder Back High Chair in Green Paint
18th Century
(Skinner)
American Ladder Back High Chair in Red Paint
Late 18th Century
(Antique Associates of West Townsend)
American Ladder Back High Chair
18th Century
(Skinner)
American Ladder Back High Chair
18th Century
(Skinner)
American Ladder Back High Chair in Black Paint
Late 18th Century
(James Julia)
American Windsor High Chair
c. 1780 - 1790
(Mount Vernon)
English Windsor High Chair in Black Paint
c. 1790
(Wakelin & Linfield)
English Yewwood & Fruitwood High Chair
c. 1730
(M. Ford Creech Antiques)
English Yewwood & Fruitwood High Chair
c. 1730
(M. Ford Creech Antiques)
Infant
Cages
American White Pine Infant Cage from New England
c. 1730 - 1800
(Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)
American Painted White Pine Infant Cage from New England
Late 18th - Early 19th Century
(Antique Associates of West Townsend)
American Painted White Pine Infant Cage from New England
Late 18th - Early 19th Century
(Antique Associates of West Townsend)
Walkers
 A Dutch Scene
by Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert c. 1620
(Rijksmuseum)
 A Dutch Scene
by Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert c. 1620
(Rijksmuseum)
Baby Walker of Cherry & Iron
c. 1700 - 1750
(New York Historical Society)
English Baby Walker of Walnut, Cherry, Maple, & Iron
c. 1700
(Museum of Fine Arts, Boston)
English Baby Walker of Mahogany, Ash, & Iron
c. 1700 - 1750
(Victoria & Albert)
Unknown Woman with Two Children
by Gawen Hamilton c. 1700 - 1750
(Victoria & Albert)
 Acknowledgements

The material contained within these slideshows is presented for educational purposes only. The
18th Century Material Culture Resource Center does not personally own any of the items
depicted herein and is indebted to the countless museums, libraries, and private collectors who
willingly share their collections with the public through the internet. Every attempt has been
made to credit these organizations and individuals for their contributions as best as possible.

If there is a question you have regarding a particular item featured within a presentation, please
contact the 18th Century Material Culture Resource Center and we will try to answer your
inquiry as best as possible. If for any reason you feel there is any item that should not be
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possible.

Thank you!

- The 18th Century Material Culture Resource Center