PLEASE NOTE: THE PRICE OF THIS PIECE HAS BEEN REDUCED FOR A LIMITED TIME! An 1800 to 1861 Pre-Civil War, American Southern Plantation, Slave Made (hand made) Baby Cradle with Primitive Carving. This piece exhibits a very rich and worn surface. One of the pieces of wood that were originally utilized as one of the side pieces appears to have broken while in use, so the users simply used the piece of wood with a broken hand-hold as the bottom of the cradle and cut a new hand-hold into the piece of wood that was used as the bottom of the cradle to make a new side piece. This was an ingenious endeavor and visually illustrates the fortitude acquired and required for slaves to survive with very little assistance from slaveowners. The interior pieces of wood used for this cradle also exhibits very heavy signs of alligatoring, caused by a baby being wet and the wood drying out and then, being wet again by the baby. This piece should have several wooden pegs to hold it together but all have been long lost. There are two small labels affixed to the base of the cradle which identifies this piece as a pre-civil war piece from a southern plantation and should never be removed. This piece measures 32" long X 19" wide X 8" high. This item qualifies for my 10% off discount! Domestic shipping is free!