Furniture: Miniature canopy bed belonging to Charles S. Stratton
Southworth, Mary (associated with)
Miniature brass canopy bed belonging to Charles S. Stratton, better known by his stage name, "General Tom Thumb." The bed was a gift to Stratton while on a tour of the British Isles with P. T. Barnum in 1844. At the time, Stratton was six years old and less than two feet tall, yet perfectly proportioned. The overall length of the bed is 33 inches, with the mattress area measuring about 29 inches long. The bed was originally gilded, that is, a very thin layer of gold was applied to the brass in the parts of the bed frame that would be seen. That layer of gold is now almost entirely gone. Traces of it can still be seen in a few small areas, such as crevices of the fluted legs where the overzealous cleaning that removed the gilding did not reach. The canopy frame (top) was originally covered in silk or a fine cotton fabric with a fringe or trimming around the edge but no fragments remain. The main feature of the bed frame is at the head: a large fleur-de-lis that bears the inscription "Presented to General Tom Thumb by the Patentee and Manufacturer Mr. R. W. Winfield, Birmingham, September 1844." R. W. Winfield was an English manufacturer of brass beds, weight scales, and steel and brass rocking chairs. Stratton received many gifts while on tour in the British Isles, similar to the way companies today engage in "product placement" with celebrities. Retailers and manufacturers must have viewed Barnum and Stratton's visit to their town or city as an opportunity to promote their image and increase business. This special bed may have been among Stratton's most treasured gifts though it may not have been used for long. Stratton continued to grow (though slowly) and would have outgrown the bed in just a few years.
Charles S. Stratton (January 4, 1838 - July 15, 1883) was an entertainer and Bridgeport, Connecticut native who got his start with P. T. Barnum in the 1840s. Stratton's parents signed him with Barnum when the boy was barely five years old. The family went to live in New York City where Stratton performed at Barnum's American Museum, located on Broadway at Ann Street. The little boy took quickly to performing, and on tours he entertained audiences worldwide, including royalty. Stratton's performances brought him renown, becoming one of the biggest celebrities at the time, and considerable wealth. In 1863, Stratton married fellow performer and little person M. Lavinia Warren; the two had a happy marriage and continued touring and performing. On July 15,1883, Stratton suffered a stroke and passed away. He is buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.