Cradle Board (Primary Title)
Ute Cradle (Alternate Title)

Unknown (Artist)

Educational
ca. 1880
Ute
hide, seed beads, Russian trade beads, wood frame
United States,Utah, Southwest
Overall: 30 × 10 × 7 in. (76.2 × 25.4 × 17.78 cm)
2015.16
Native American cradleboards, or “babyboards,” are the ancestor to modern-day child carriers. Functionality, spirituality, and individuality were crucial to each cradle, granting the child physical and spiritual security while “bound” during the first year or so of life. The cradleboard was padded for the child’s comfort, provided protection with its rigidity, and allowed portability during travel or work.
From the Robert and Nancy Nooter Collection, Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Endowment
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC

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