Featured Silver Rattle - Thoughts about Age

I usually don't go to Estate Sales, because here they are run by professional companies and tend to be overpriced. This one offered goods on the second day for 50% off - the crowd was huge. Everything was picked over. I bought this silver rattle on a whim to add to my small collection of silver items - mostly spoons.

I am hoping it has some age, but that's where I need your help. It is unmarked, as far as I can see. It is 4 7/8" long (probably metric then) and 1 1/2 inches at its widest point. It probably has a story that was well known, but I don't know it. It appears to be a dog howling in front of a doghouse.

I know it is silver because it was very tarnished. That was probably why it was left, and also it was originally priced at $60.

Any thoughts or comments?

 

Cute piece-love that dog ! Can you see any kind of tiny hallmark on it ? You know how they liked to hide things.

 

There could be a mark on the ring, feel it with your fingers.

 

Some Hallmarks/Logos are freakishly teeeensy.

 

It looks like sterling to me. We can ask Mr Nate. There's probably a mark somewhere under the tarnish. Have you looked down the side of the handle?

This type of item was presented to new parents in the 1940s maybe even earlier. The little ring would allow you to tie the rattle onto the stroller or the high chair. I still have my brother's sterling teething ring and that would have been 1946. It's very cute.

 

OKay I'll go over it with my loup. Later today - the theater awaits.

 

Good idea. Thank you. I'll concentrate there.

 

Yes, they are. In the store, I use my magnifier app on my phone, take a photo and then enlarge. Then I find the casting blurred it.

 

Okay. @MrNate any thoughts on it being sterling. I know you are a silver wizard.

I'll polish it more. I wondered what that ring was for. Too small for even tiny fingers. So when they threw it out, it didn't hit the ground? Thanks for the date range.

 

This is the closest I could find,but yours is fancier & has good humor to it.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/164179600314?nma=true&si=Yx2VhoOqH5et5uKTHLR79S0xImc%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
P.S.-The ring on the handle was attached to a chain so baby wouldn't lose it.

 

I think Ola already hit that nail on the head.

 

As suggested, the ring was for hanging from a ribbon - I thought maybe Portuguese since they make a lot of cute children's silverware, including this type rattle, but this seller says it's German .800 (some marks are visible on the ring), would suggest dating of perhaps 1920s-'60s rather than "19th century":

https://endl-antiquitaeten.de/verkauf/silber-verkauf/seltene-kinderrassel-mit-halteoese-800er-silber




~Cheryl

 

I think it looks right too, but I do see some yellow where the handle connects to the rattle itself; that may just be the lighting or "good tarnish" but figured I would point it out as that shows up on worn down plated pieces. Just figured I would mention the handle pattern has a french/european look to me. Hmmmmm...I would just have to believe there's sneaky little marks somewhere on it. Could we see a few photos of the other side?

 

FYI that one sold for $125.00.

 

Close find. Thank you very much. Like the information about the chain. I wonder if it was silver too.

 

1. I agree. OLa has it right. Rattles get thrown a lot and it would be handy for them not to be on the floor if they were made of metal and less easy to clean than modern plastic.
   

 

Cheryl. So chuffed you took a look.
A ribbon sounds better than a chain, I agree.

I can't believe you found the exact one. You are truly amazing. I thought it wasn't American because I didn't recognize the characters from an older fairy tale. I wouldn't have guessed German. Great dates. I'm so pleased to add this to my small collection of antique and vintage silver items. Kiko

 

It's the lighting. I don't have good lighting where I took the picture so I use a daylight flashlight to make things a little brighter. I'll get some photos tomorrow. I had a very full day today and it's late. Thank you for looking.

 

Wowser. I paid $30. Looks like I got a good deal then.

 

The style did look German to me, they often had that slightly 'brutal' edge to children's things, like that huge jaw.
.800 also corresponds with the colour, silver but not sterling.