Cradle Model

Item number E2574-0 from the National Museum of Natural History.

Public
Hide

Item Records

This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.

The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.

These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.

  • Data
  • Data Source

This information was automatically generated from data provided by National Museum of Natural History. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Notes

FROM CARD: "ILLUSTRATED IN MASON'S CRADLES OF THE AMERICAN ABORIGINES, USNM AR, 1887; FIG.7, P. 170. ALSO IN USNM AR, 1894; FIG. 206(B), P.514."Wooden cradle (model or toy), stained red on exterior, with native string loop lacing which firmly holds doll in place. Doll is made of stuffed buckskin, covered with two layers of cloth; only head and feet are visible. Cedar bark bundle is attached, presumably used for head flattening. Has original Peale # label.Entry on cradle model in Peale catalogue # 116 identifies it: "Model of cradle, made by the natives of Oregon to show the manner of flattening the heads of their children." Peale catalogue entry # 38 also mentions this cradle model. There is a doll in the cradle. Caption in USNM AR for 1887 calls this cradle Chinook. The illustrations of this object in the old USNM publications depict a long pad attached to the headboard and extending over the child's forehead and lashed down on either side of cradle, as part of the head flattening process. This pad is not present with the cradle model as of 2010. A similar cradle is shown in an drawing by Alfred T. Agate engraved by T.H. Mumford "Indian Mode of Rocking Cradle". See Charles Wilkes, 1798-1877, Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition. During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842., 1845 edition, Philadelphia. Printed from original "official" 1844 Philadelphia publication plates ed., 5 vols. (Philadephia: Lea and Blanchard, 1845). Illustration appears on page 361, Volume 4. This cradle is also similar to one depicted in an engraving of a Chinook cradle with head-binding device, Columbia River area, p. 307 of Volume 1 of Belcher, Edward, and Richard Brinsley Hinds. 1843. Narrative of a voyage round the world: performed in Her Majesty's ship Sulphur during the years 1836-1842 : including details of the naval operations in China from Dec. 1840 to Nov. 1841. London: H. Colburn. See also Catlin cradle # E73312.

Item History

What

Name
Cradle Model
Identification Number
E2574-0
Type of Item
cradle model and doll

Where

Holding Institution
National Museum of Natural History
Made in
Oregon, USA
Collected in
Oregon, USA

Who

Culture
Chinook ?
Received from
United States Exploring Expedition

When

Collection Date
between 1838 and 1842
Acquisition Date
during 1858

Other

Accession Number
66A00050

Ask a question

Let the RRN community answer your questions

Public
  • Post a Question
  • Message a User Privately

With an account, you can ask other users a question about this item. Request an Account

Shared Knowledge

Share your knowlege of this item with the RRN community

Public

With an account, you can submit information about this item and have it visible to all users and institutions on the RRN. Request an Account

Similar Items