The Mother's Dream - Hand-Colored Lithograph by Currier & Ives

This is an original nineteenth-century hand-colored lithograph titled 'The Mother’s Dream', published by the renowned American firm Currier & Ives at 152 Nassau St., New York. The composition features a sentimental Victorian scene depicting a sleeping woman seated beside a draped infant in a cradle, while a spectral angel carrying a small child floats above them in a ray of divine light. The print is housed in a period-appropriate Victorian wooden frame with a prominent gilded inner bevel. The lithograph displays the characteristic soft gradients of stone printing, further enhanced by manual watercolor application in muted blues, reds, and cream tones. Notable markings include the publisher's imprint and the title in decorative typography at the bottom margin, accompanied by emotive verse. Based on the publisher's address and stylistic elements, it likely dates between 1857 and 1872. The condition shows visible age-related darkening or foxing to the paper, typical of nineteenth-century wood-pulp materials. The frame exhibits significant wear, including chipping to the gilding and abrasions to the dark wood finish, which consistent with its age and suggests an original or long-term pairing. The craftsmanship reflects the mass-market sentimental art style that defined Currier & Ives as 'Printmakers to the People'.