Baby's rattle
Silver, coral
London, around 1750

This was an expensive all-in-one entertainment and health kit for a baby. The whistle and rattle offered the chance to make a lot of noise while the coral was cool against the child’s gums when teething and acted as an amulet to ward away evil spirits. In 1706 the Countess of Lauderdale bought 'a silver gumstick with bells and a piece of fine coral' for £1. 8s. 0d.

Museum no. 18-1996