I have now contacted the vendor to ask the simple question, "Do you have anything that proves that you have an original (cradle)?" The vendor promptly came back to me, without hesitation, to confirm that the cradle is indeed a reproduction, as has been suggested by bigduke6, but "very accurate", in the vendor's words. The vendor went on to tell me that he knows of 3 originals, all in museums. I have to say that it had "the look" of an original to me when I noticed it at the show.

If anyone is seriously interested in purchasing this reproduction cradle, I am happy to pass on the vendor's contact details if they wish to contact me by P.M.. I would add that I do not know the vendor personally, only that I met him at the show.