Economic Botany Collections

Model of an Indian cradle

This model Indian cradle, possibly intended for a doll, was one of the Canadian Aboriginal artefacts on display at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition held in London in 1886. Professor William Saunders later sent it to Kew with other ‘Indian Curiosities’. It was most likely made by the Mi’kmaq of eastern Canada. The cradle is made from birch bark and wood, split root, aniline dyes, cloth, thread, glass beads, and porcupine quills. The name ‘Ellen Peters', possibly the maker, is pencilled onto the bottom.

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