cradle
1980The rectangular, wooden cradle is made of pine, and features a solid base and ends, with the left and right sides semi enclosed using wooden dowel. The cradle is attached to a solid wood base at the head and foot, enabling it to gently rock at waist height. An ‘L’ shaped piece of wood attached to the head of the cradle is designed to attach a mobile.
This cradle was donated to the Fremantle Prison Collection in 2019. It was originally commissioned from Fremantle Prison Carpenter’s Workshops by the donor's sister in 1980.
Details
Details
This is the only cradle in the Fremantle prison collection. There are a number of items made by prisoners in the workshop, with a far smaller number relating to children; which include a chest of drawers (2024.?), two rocking horses (2018.4), a wooden toy trolley with blocks (1998.306) and soft toy elephant. Further research in the community may determine if a number of cradles were made by the carpentry workshop to this same design.
The cradle is an example of an object made by prisoners for the wider community, and relates particularly to previously overlooked themes of women and children. The cradle also relates to the idea of the transformative power of reform, as opposed to punishment, through the prison system. The object speaks to the value of prison industries as a form of connection between prisoners and the wider community, and a way of learning a new skill while giving back to the community. A number of items handmade by prisoners were donated to hospitals and children’s charities in the mid to late 20th century, and a pram repair workshop was carried out onsite. The item is well provenanced to Fremantle Prison.
