Thonet bentwood cradle. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
Posted by razzbuffnik on February 15th, 2008
I think that most people would recognize this chair
It’s the model 14 Thonet bentwood chair designed by Michael Thonet in 1859. It’s still a very popular design that is still being produced and I’ve seen Thonet chairs all around the world in various cafes and restaurants. It’s a real design icon.
I was in Melbourne two weeks ago and I went to the National Gallery of Victoria where I saw this amazing Thonet bentwood cradle.
Although it doesn’t have the same paired back classic look of the model 14 chair, the cradle is still is a tour de force of bentwood.
February 18th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
That is freakin’ scary. I would never place my (yet unborn) child in that thing. It looks like a sacrificial altar for the scorpion gods. The craftsmanship is impressive though.
February 18th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
I found myself wondering about the baby getting it’s limbs or even it’s head caught in the rather large gaps.
Now since you mention it, it is rather creepy and I can imagine a small baby being caught and held fast while the stinger does it’s job.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:18 am
You are reacting to “Rosemary’s Baby”. Children from homes with cradles like this were never left unattended. Even while sleeping, a nurse sat next to the bed.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Hello: it is a very exceptional bentwood cradle of Jacob & Josef Kohn, an austrian bentwood furniture enterprise of Moravia. It is striking that is a model of “Universal Exhibitions”, probably of the 1881 Melbourne Universal Exhibition where J & J Kohn won the first price. I have historical photos of other exhibitions (Paris 1878) with this (nearly the same) model. How can I get better photographs of this piece? It is better than the models that are in the MOMA (New York) and in the Orsay (Paris) where similar Kohn cradles are exhibited. Wonderful piece¡
November 4th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Because I have a Thonet cradle for sale (nothing as nice as this exquisite one), I happened to be in communications with the fine arts dealer who once owned this incredible piece.
He raised both his children with this cradle, sold it, and it now sits in the museum.
I assure you, this generous, marvelous man’s children were never left unattended. They are now 21 and 18 and visit their cradle in the museum.
December 9th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Hellow:
I am from The Museum of the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
We have child cradle similar as the photo of Melbourne. It is signed: J & J Kohn and was buyed in the Universal Exhibition of Paris, in 1900.
It has some difference between the MoMa cradle and that one.
December 19th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Hola Claudia Caamaño: tengo mucho interés en cunas de este tipo, que estoy estudiando. Te agradecería mucho que te pusieras en contacto conmigo en http://stores.lulu.com/bentkohn. Un cordial saludo. Julio Vives