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Rattle, Whistle, and Bells

1735–45
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 704
This object functioned as toy with a whistle and bells, as a teething device and as an amulet. The silver of the whistle and bells made it precious while the coral was used for teething and was thought to ward off enchantment and disease. As a token of protection and prosperity a whistle with coral and bells was included in an eighteenth-century American portrait of "Mrs. Jacob Hurd and Child" (64.114.2). For similar objects in the collection, see 47.70 and 1978.287.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Rattle, Whistle, and Bells
  • Maker: Richard Van Dyck (1717–1770) or
  • Maker: Peter Van Dyck (1684–1750)
  • Date: 1735–45
  • Geography: Made in New York, New York, United States
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Silver and coral
  • Dimensions: 6 1/4 in. (15.9 cm); 2 oz. 15 dwt. (85 g)
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Alphonso T. Clearwater, 1933
  • Object Number: 33.120.361
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

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Child's rattle and teether, G.U., Silver, coral, British, Birmingham
Child's rattle and teether
G.U.
1835–36
Cann, Richard Van Dyck American, Silver, American
Cann
Richard Van Dyck
1750–70
Two-handled Bowl, Cornelius Kierstede American, Silver, American
Two-handled Bowl
Cornelius Kierstede
1700–1710
Basket, Myer Myers American, Silver, American
Basket
Myer Myers
1770–76
Rattle, Whistle, and Bells, Nicholas Roosevelt American, Gold, coral, American
Rattle, Whistle, and Bells
Nicholas Roosevelt
1755–68

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