Sterling Silver and Coral Rattle Whistle

Exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver baby rattle and whistle has a bulbous shaped form. The surface of the tiered body is embellished with impressive embossed leaf decoration. The impressive antique silver rattle is fitted with seven articulated, functional bells attached intermittently around the bulbous body.(missing one bell). The sterling silver rattle/whistle retains the original, undulating coral handle; such examples retaining the original handle are becoming increasingly difficult to locate. The embossed body of this antique baby rattle incorporates a whistle, accessible from the opposing end to the coral handle. An example of this rattle can be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art attributed to the daughter of Duncan Phyfe. Silver baby rattles are known in England since the beginning of the 18th century, but most extant examples date from c. 1760. Rattles with their elaborate chased and repoussé ornament were often given as a lavish christening gift. This baby rattle is made in the typical English style with elaborate ornament whistle, bells and coral. It consists of a whistle, a piece of teething coral, nine of the original ten bells, and a loop to hang the toy on a ribbon around the child's neck. Aside from being a teething device, the coral in the whistle and bells was thought to ward off enchantment and disease. Marked "H &T". Registered in 1832 and was used until 1945.