Mitten

I walked past the Foundling Museum today in Brunswick Square.  It was founded in 1739 to care for abandoned babies, and the work of the charity continues today on the site next door.  I've never noticed before the tiny sculpture integral to the railings outside the museum.  It is a life size baby's mitten cast in bronze and painted to look realistic (although now rather grubby).  It is part of an exhibition by Tracey Emin in 2008 called "Baby Things".  In the 18th century when mothers left their babies at the charity, they were asked to leave a token in case they ever came to reclaim their child, so that they could prove which child was theirs.  Few mothers ever returned.  A common token to leave was a mitten.  Isn't that heart-breaking.  I don't normally rate Tracey Emin, but this tiny sculpture is a perfect metaphor of loss.