Enclosed swings such as this are referred to in contemporary sales catalogues as baby's swings. Children's or garden swings tend to have a simple seat suspended from ropes or chains.

There are no manufacturer's marks on this swing. However, the quality of the turned separators suggests that this was a commercially produced item.

Similar swings appear in the Anthony Hordern catalogue of 1911 and the Nock and Kirby catalogue of 1927. It is possible that swings of this type date to the 19th century, however, none appeared in the Hordern's catalogues of 1894/5.

These toys were donated to the National Trust's Museum of Australian Childhood by the Thyne Reid Foundation.

Babys swing, wood/ rope/ metal, maker unknown, [Australia], 1900-1930.
Baby's swing made of wood with rope attachments. It is square in shape with a wooden seat shaped at the front for the baby's legs. The seat is made from two pieces of wood held together with a two strips of metal screwed to the bottom of the seat. There are two levels of wooden slats on all sides of the seat that form a barrier to the baby falling out. These are separated by eight lathe turned wooden dividers at each corner of the swing. Four end pieces of two ropes are knotted and threaded through the slats and dividers. Between the top slat and the knot on each piece of rope is a wooden ball. The ropes end with metal dog clips, used to attach the swing to a beam. The swing is tinted with a dark red stain.

Made: Australia; 1900 - 1930


Owned: National Trust of Australia;

99/4/24

1900 - 1930

282 mm

340 mm

310 mm