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The Antique Baby
Carriage
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The Golden Age of Carriages
by Anne Katherine Brown
The Victorian
antique baby carriage is favored today by wicker collectors, doll collectors and photographers. Wicker companies such as Heywood Brothers and the Wakefield Rattan Company, abounded in the 1880s making carriages to transport babies and toddlers.
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Recently, my daydreams are enchanted visions of my friend
proudly wheeling the latest, up-scale stroller, her precious granddaughter donned in
ribbons and lace ready to be presented to the world. Being a lover of antiques, naturally
my mood takes a sentimental step back in time as I assembled another picture and this
alluring image was one from a century earlier. The beloved child in lavish comfort, gently
being pushed in a handsome, ornate, Victorian antique baby carriage perched up high on spoke wheels.
The prettiest parasol quietly floats overhead. It's a somewhere-in-time procession that
conjures dreams of yesteryear. The dreams that tug at one's heart and stimulated the
writing of this article.
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 The time 1880s - 1890s:
IT WAS THE GOLDEN AGE OF CARRIAGES....
The wicker
antique baby carriage of the 1880s and
1890s had its birth during the Civil War years. The carriage trade was quiet at first to
capture the Victorian heart. However, by the 1870s, the demand for carriages was climbing.
Several manufacturers that were already producing a diverse line of children's hand-woven,
wicker products — bedsteads, cradles, chairs, bassinets and cribs — added
carriages, recognizing the carriage evolution. Heywood Brothers & Company were turning
out quality, embellished carriages in large numbers to meet the ever-increasing demand.
Companies started printing separate trade catalogues for carriages because of that demand.
The upper-class Victorian was smitten by the ornate scrollwork and the hand-crafted,
individual workmanship. They appreciated the abundant choices in styles, woods and
upholstering. Sears Roebuck and Marshall Field published several pages of their yearly
catalog solely to stylish carriages. Sears Roebuck printed on their cover the words
"Cheapest Supply House on Earth;" nearly everyone that desired it could now
afford the coveted carriage.
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T he fascination of the Victorian woman of the late 1800s over the wicker carriage owes
partial credit to the times and a mother's influence. With gentle, but unflinching control
over the Victorian lifestyle, Mother Nature surrounded and invited contemplation in
everyday life. Strolling in the fresh air was considered a joy and necessary for good
health and motherhood. The Victorian woman was ardently concerned for proper ventilation
and hygiene. Social books such as Rules of Conduct for Polite Society stressed that one
should rejoice with nature. One's passion for nature was seen everywhere and eagerly
brought indoors. Delicate flowers and leaves were collected to be pressed in books for
keepsakes. In the parlor, collected shells were displayed and often crafted into mementos.
This obsessive passion for nature and the outdoors visibly enhanced the quest for
carriages.
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 Each year as spring rejoiced, the companies' arrival of carriage catalogs
would sweetly seduce the Victorian mother with irresistible offers of the latest carriage
styles. The Victorian woman was already familiar with the advantages American wicker
offered. Wicker was both durable and lightweight. Its airy appearance increased a feeling
of union with nature, and yet pleased her eye. Lightweight wicker could be transferred
from the parlor to the veranda, porch or yard as warm days drew near. Easy to clean,
cleanliness next to Godliness, this Victorian motto easily reinforced the affair with
wicker.
Wicker is the correct and prevailing term to describe all materials used in wicker
furniture, rattan, cane, reed, fiber and other grasses. This handmade, natural product had
been accepted by the 19th century public after London's Grand Exposition of 1851 exhibited
a wicker chair by a New York designer.
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AMERICAN WICKER:
The oldest piece of American wicker is a simple cradle used for one of the first
European children born on native soil, Peregrine White. His arrival on December 7, 1620,
was eight days after the Mayflower reached this New Land. The baby's cradle is now in the
Plymouth Hall Museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts. American Indian nations were expert
basket makers but never made wicker furniture. It was immigrant settlers' memories of a
simple, woven technique that established the art here. Many existing Wills listed one
wicker chair 1639.
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 By the 1660s, rattan was becoming available with China opening trade with
England. During the 1840s, long after China opened new ports of trade, clipper ships from
the Far East utilized the durable, strong poles of rattan. A majestic climbing vine,
rattan resembles palm of various species. They share a common link in that they are
extremely long, durable, solid stocks, and when unclothed of leaves and cut, served as
poles used to secure cargo from shifting at sea. Upon reaching destination, the rattan
having no further use customarily would be discarded.
This unwanted, unusual product found dockside bewildered a young Boston grocer. It was
1844 when Cyrus Wakefield's curiosity stirred within. Homeward bound, he rescued some
rattan cables with which to experiment. The flexibility impressed him as he wrapped a
yielding piece around a chair frame. This amazing palm placed in the right hands was to
become a Victorian treasure, excellent for furniture use - the awakening of Wakefield's
future. When the stalks of rattan are split, the thin strips of the outer bark are called
cane, ideal for seats and chair backs. The inner pith is reed.
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Cyrus Wakefield became the foremost wicker supplier in America and opened, in 1855,
Wakefield Rattan Company. The Massachusetts area, encompassing that company was named for
Wakefield in 1868. Foreign countries played a significant role in the history of wicker,
but wicker as an industry was born in America.
In 1876, wicker furniture was included in the arts and crafts category at the
Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. Awards were presented to the Wakefield Rattan Company
for design and workmanship. Trial and error of the past decade led to the company
producing a quality art form, their craftsman highly skilled. Duly noted also for proper
ventilation, an awareness of nature, Wicker was satisfying the Victorian concerns!
Is it any wonder that carriages were in such lofty demand? They amplified the awareness
of nature. This natural product used for domestic life was unequal to any other in
popularity. Wicker companies abounded in the 1880s making carriages to transport babies
and toddlers. With so many companies competing for the carriage trade, thousands were
provided employment. To complete a carriage required three days of 12 to 14 hours. The
hand process was slow and tedious, however, it enabled carriages from the golden era to
survive today.
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 The competitiveness of the carriage business was a blessing for the customer,
exhibiting a well- designed product with pricing properly modest. During the 1880s and
1890s, Heywood Brothers and Company devoted one factory to only carriage production. The
choices, during this golden period of time, seemed endless.
Sleeper carts provided a device for lowering and adjusting the back into a comfortable
reclining position, with the footrest raising automatically. Carriages were built on
spring frames that provided a gentle ride and allowed the carriage to rock a fussy babe to
sleep. Go carts were strong runabouts suitable for a baby eight months or older. Rolled
arms and roomy interior with a push handle, these versatile carriages could be ordered
with or without parasol. For the Sears Roebuck and Company, their jewel was the Go Cart
Sleeper offered at $6.98 in late 1880.
The Heywood Brothers produced twin carriages in 1880 in limited quantities. Twins would
sit, one at each end, facing each other riding in style with matching parasols overhead
emitting an air of grandeur. For an extra $2, Heywood offered in their catalogs runners
that would turn any of their carriages into baby sleighs.
To distinguish them from their competitors, many manufacturers proudly gave their
carriages names, Victoria, Daisy and Baby Bunting for the girls, Sir Arthur for the boys.
Arch rivals, Wakefield and Heywood would merge to become the largest, wicker carriage
producer. Companies, to further entice customers, offered to pay freight to their closet
railroad station for an order of $10 or more. Bountiful, fetching carriage styles,
continued to enchant customers. Carriages could be ordered in stain or varnish of choice -
cherry, oak, mahogany or clear. Gold leaf could be richly applied to the carriage body and
gears for an additional fee.
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While early carriages were made of willow, reed was preferred as it had the capability
to take stain. Interior upholstery was made available in soft silk, tapestry, damask,
velour or broadcloth in lush colors of sapphire, cardinal, golden brown, myrtle and more.
Parasols that could be hooked on the back or side were offered in silk or satin; ruffles,
lace edging, bows and ribbons completed the beautiful packaging.
Little girls were given toy wicker carriages coaxing them to mimic mother. Young girls
into their teens played at housekeeping for marriage was the ultimate goal. Wicker
manufacturers were ever willing to oblige, making toy carriages in every style and shape.
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As the turn of the century drew near, the Golden Age of Carriage embellishment was
tarnishing; sadly it was the end of the Victorian era. With the new century brought new
ideas and styles. Carriage fanciers now considered them too garish and overdone. The
modest, straight lines of the arts and crafts movement was in vogue. Carriages by the
thousands were simply thrown away or burned, no reminder of such vulgar taste was
considered proper.
Many companies closed, while the large ones adjusted to the new age and offered Mission
style. The invention of the Lloyd loom to speed production of carriages had a hand in
their demise. Poor quality of machine wicker hastened the fate of one-of-a-kind, hand
craftsmanship. The golden age had ended.
Prized carriages are favored today by wicker collectors, doll collectors and
photographers. These wicker carriages are eagerly purchased when offered for sale.
Condition is the key to pricing, which varies throughout the country. Without a doubt, a
rare twin carriage is a proud acquisition.
More on Carriages:
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