
The Hand that Rocked the Cradle
The Art of Birth and Infancy
Sue Laurence(Author)
Unicorn Publishing Group
Will be published approx. on 15. October 2018
Book
Hardback
192 pages
978-1-911604-55-6 (ISBN)
Description
This book offers a fresh perspective on the history of birth and infancy by showing a rich array of images and objects ranging from paintings, prints, sculpture, metalwork, jewellery, textiles, ceramics, furniture and woodwork from both the fine and decorative arts, and medical and social history collections. Western European art has a strong tradition in representing birth and infancy, and many objects relating to this subject have survived, in collections such as the Wellcome in London and other museums and galleries across the world.
The long chronological scope (1300-1900) provides insight to the enduring nature of many traditions and heirlooms relating to childhood and infancy. Moreover, by tracing the subject back to the medieval period it challenges the notion that so many of these practices were of more recent origin.
The book is divided into an introduction followed by seven chapters with integrated fully captioned illustrations. The main subjects covered are: Beliefs and Customs; Childbirth; Lying-in, Rites of passage, ceremony and rituals; Milestones; The cult of breastfeeding; Accidents, abuse, fatalities and abandonment.
The long chronological scope (1300-1900) provides insight to the enduring nature of many traditions and heirlooms relating to childhood and infancy. Moreover, by tracing the subject back to the medieval period it challenges the notion that so many of these practices were of more recent origin.
The book is divided into an introduction followed by seven chapters with integrated fully captioned illustrations. The main subjects covered are: Beliefs and Customs; Childbirth; Lying-in, Rites of passage, ceremony and rituals; Milestones; The cult of breastfeeding; Accidents, abuse, fatalities and abandonment.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
50 colour and 65 black & white images
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 160 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
567 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-911604-55-6 (9781911604556)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Sue Laurence was formerly Head of Interpretation at the National Archives; before that she was a curator at the Florence Nightingale Museum and spent ten years first as Deputy Head and then as Head of the V&A Museum of Childhood, where she created many innovative exhibitions as well as securing significant acquisitions. Sue has written for a number of journals, lectured on a broad range of curatorial subjects and made media appearances.