item details
NamePresentation cradle and accessories
ProductionJohn Hislop; silversmith; 1906; Dunedin
Classificationcradles
Materialssterling silver, glass, silver, cloth, ceramic, silk, wood
DimensionsOverall: 173mm (width), 240mm (height), 235mm (length)
Registration NumberGH011297/1-6
Credit linePurchased 2005
Overview
This sterling silver presentation cradle is decorated with floral and scroll engraving, and comes complete with dressed doll and bedding in a glass domed stand. It was made by the John Hislop jewellery firm in 1906, and is stamped with the 'HISLOP' maker's mark.
In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries it was customary to gift a miniature silver cradle to a member of Parliament or a member of a local body organisation if they had a child while in office. This example was presented to Miss Charlotte Maude Inder, daughter of the Chairman of Maniototo City Council, to commemorate her birth on January 5, 1906.