Baby's rattle
Category
Toys
Date
circa 1800 - circa 1899
Materials
Wood and metal
Measurements
200 mm (length); 45 mm (height); 83 mm (diameter)
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 660290
Summary
A wooden rattle, turned out of boxwood and shellac finished (possibly 19th century). The turned spherical noise box made of two pieces of wood pinned together has a slot in one fifth of its circumference. A pin or dowel in the centre of the noise box holds the end of the handle, finished at its other end with a decorative ball or knob. Holding the handle and rolling the wooden noise box against the palm of the other hand allows it to be hit by the square end of the handle, thus creating the noise. This object could be a child's toy but could also be an assist for rousing game birds for hunters to shoot.