Baby in cradle squeak toy

1820-1850

Cloth, wood, papier-mâché, leather, paint, paper, lace

Overall: 2 3/4 x 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 in. ( 7 x 6.4 x 6.4 cm )

Purchased from Elie Nadelman, 1937

INV.11519

This object was once part of the folk art collection of Elie Nadelman (1882-1946), the avant-garde sculptor. From 1924 to 1934, Nadelman's collection was displayed in his Museum of Folk Arts, located in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. The Historical Society purchased Nadelman's entire collection in 1937. These squeak toys, or “squeakies,” were made in Germany, which supported a cottage industry that produced cheap toys for worldwide export. Toys of this type were imported into the United States in great quantities prior to the Civil War. Made of painted papier-mâché, wood, and frequently leather bellows, they delighted children on both sides of the Atlantic. They must also have appealed to Elie Nadelman, whose sculptures in papier-mâché may have been partly inspired by these objects.

DescriptionSqueak toy with molded papier-mâché baby in wooden cradle mounted on rectangular base/bellows, which is in turn mounted on rockers; baby's head is painted with black hair and black eyes; a lace collar surrounds the head and the baby is tucked into calico bedclothes; cradle painted yellow with red, blue, and green designs.

ClassificationsTOYS

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