Cradle Made for an Enslaved Baby

ca. 1830

This baby’s cradle was crafted by an enslaved person.

 Enslaved families attempted to protect and comfort their children in various ways, reminding them of their humanity. They handcrafted furniture, clothing, quilts, and toys that carried personal meaning, and showed enslaved children that they were worthy of love and care.

This cradle was crafted by an enslaved person in South Carolina. Fashioned from five wooden boards, it sits on two rockers that gently soothed the infant to sleep.