Vintage ornate silver item

[ModernMiner]

O.K. Folks,
Another mystery item for you experts. I dug this piece at a mid-1800's property yesterday. I first thought it was an earring, but it is way too big. It is hollow and looks to be possibly old silver.
I had a good guess in my post yesterday of it possibly being from an 1800's baby rattle. That picture is attached here too.

What do you think?

Thanks,
MM

 

[ModernMiner]

More photos

 

[ModernMiner]

any chance it is a perfume container to be wore around the neck?

Texas,
I couldn't have hold any liquid. It is hollow and I can see through where the wire runs through it.
Thanks,
MM

 

[ModernMiner]

Thank you. Maybe it is a baby rattle....guess they didn't worry about babies choking back then...the babies were either smarter or tougher...LOL

LOL. I was thinking the same thing TT.
-MM-

 

[Silver Searcher]

:P

Is it to large to be a ear ring

SS

 

[ModernMiner]

:P

Is it to large to be a ear ring

SS

SS,
Too big unless it was from the 70's disco era.
Thanks,
MM

Christmas ornament or horse harness jingle bell?

No ringy dingy on this piece.

 

[nova treasure]

animals collar charm perhaps ? looking at the pics made me think of a collar charm on the cat in the movie "Men in Black". yeah, I watch alot of movies .
Bill

 

[Silver Searcher]

Could a part from a Chatelaine :P...... perhaps the sphere heald material that had been perfumed

SS

 

[ModernMiner]

Folks, I am steering towards this item being part of an 18th century baby rattle as ID's by a fellow Tnet member in my "Today's Finds" post.
Check this out. I Googled "18th century baby rattle" and this came up. The little danglers are identical!
This particular piece was a whistle/rattle combo.
"Sometimes called Elizabethan inventories, rattles were a combination of a whistle & bells to create a noisy toy that could amuse a child for hours. Silver was known to kill bacteria and was known as a natural antibiotic and preventative against infections which would be a very good reason for its use in items given to babies."

What do you think?

-MM-

 

[nova treasure]

the bells are a great match to the rattle shown, but to make yours a baby rattle it must have attached to something else for a baby to hold onto it.

Very cool find, Bill

 

[Unicorn]

I agree, I also think it's a baby's rattle. These were quite common in the Victorian era, and I have seen a few of them on the antiques roadshow. It would initially have had a handle on it. But I agree, they could have been quite dangerous for a baby, they love putting things in their mouth.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Great find Doug~!

 

[Dman]

I don't know what it is but it is neat.

 

[Kiwijohn]

The "handle" on old rattles would be made of ivory or coral and was used as
a teething ring or "pacifier".
A rattle only, like your item would be unusual.

 

[ModernMiner]

Some more pictures. I'm thinking this piece actually connected to the main body of the rattle. You can see the old school craftsmanship in this piece: non-uniform sized detail pieces, soldering, filing.

Thanks everyone for your help & comments,
MM