A late 17th / early 18th century cherrywood and oak cradle With domed hood and panelled sides on rockers, 84cm wide, 38cm deep, 78cm high. The large depth of most early cradles were necessary to accommodate the large amounts of bedding and loose rushes or matting which would be changed daily. The hoods were to protect the baby from draughts which were thought to be a major cause of infant mortality at that time. See V.Chinnery, Oak Furniture, The British Tradition, p.399, figure 3:474 for a very similar panelled example, possibly English or Welsh and circa 1690-1740 and another in David Knell, English Country Furniture, figure 539.