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Cradle with painted decoration

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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This necessary piece of household furniture has bowed sides; horseshoe-shaped end boards and rests on rockers screwed to the bottom. The rocking motion was intended to soothe the baby and the narrow "bed" provided warmth and security. The decoration, sponge-like black designs daubed over an orange-red ground, creates a simple but pleasing effect on this cradle made by Deerfield carpenter, Wyman Stebbins (1807-1837) for his second daughter.

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