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Medieval & Early Modern Europe · c. 800 – 1800

Coral teething rattles & child charms

Meaning

The 'coral and bells' combines red coral (which protected against the evil eye and was believed to change colour when a child was ill), a silver whistle and bells (noise drove away evil spirits), and a teether for sore gums.

Intent

It was given to infants as a protective charm and a practical toy, often as a christening gift, to guard against evil, illness and teething pain in the most dangerous first year of life.

Significance

It is the perfect example of an amulet becoming a luxury object. Wealthy 18th-century English and American children were painted holding them, and the silver ones by makers like Hester Bateman are now collectors' pieces.

History

Coral for infants goes back to Roman times (Pliny recommends it). Coral-and-bells rattles appear in 16th–17th century paintings and peak in 18th–19th century Britain and America, declining in the early 20th century.

Making yours
10–15 cm silver or silver-gilt handle with whistle, 4–8 small bells and a polished coral or mother-of-pearl teether.
Medieval & Early Modern Europe: the tradition

Medieval Europe held two protective systems at once: the Church's sacramentals (relics, blessed wax, saints' medals, written prayers) and an older 'natural magic' of stones, herbs and animal parts inherited from Pliny and the lapidaries of Marbode of Rennes (c. 1090) and Albertus Magnus. Pilgrimage produced millions of cheap lead badges. Renaissance courts wore toadstones and bezoars set in gold, and Protestant reformers attacked both relics and charms. In Catholic Bavaria, Austria, Italy and Spain the folk tradition survived into the 20th century, recorded by collectors like Leopold Kriss-Rettenbeck and Rudolf Kriss, whose collections are now in Munich, and by Walter Hildburgh, who gave thousands of Spanish and Italian amulets to the V&A.

See all 26, save the ones that feel rightAsk about having one made
Silver pendent crescent amulet with a whistle and bells, Britain or Spain, 1650-1700Silver pendent crescent amulet with a whistle and bells, Britain or Spain, 1650-1700Britain · 1650-1700London hallmarked silver body with bulbous whistle at upper end, two rings of bells around centre and coral teLondon hallmarked silver body with bulbous whistle at upper end, two rings of bells around centre and coral teLondon · 1823-1824Whistle and Bells with CoralWhistle and Bells with CoralBoston · c. 1722Baby's silver rattle with teething ring of bone made in England (Birmingham) in 1901Baby's silver rattle with teething ring of bone made in England (Birmingham) in 1901England · 1901Zahnfeige, mounted as a pendant, for infants when teething (?orris root).Zahnfeige, mounted as a pendant, for infants when teething (?orris root).United KingdomM0016752: Woman wearing a bridal costume adorned with amulets, from La Alberca, Salamanca Province / M0016753: Amber facetted beads and a neckalce for a teething childM0016752: Woman wearing a bridal costume adorned with amulets, from La Alberca, Salamanca Province / M0016753: Amber facetted beads and a neckalce for a teething childGouden rammelaar met kristallen bijtstift en gouden belletjes, objectnr 134Gouden rammelaar met kristallen bijtstift en gouden belletjes, objectnr 134Teething coral made by Peter Van Dyck or Richard Van Dyck, METTeething coral made by Peter Van Dyck or Richard Van Dyck, METRattle, Whistle, and BellsRattle, Whistle, and BellsSkallra-visselpipa, 1680-tal, använd av Karl XI:s barn.Skallra-visselpipa, 1680-tal, använd av Karl XI:s barn.Basel 2012-10-06 Batch Part 3 (2)Basel 2012-10-06 Batch Part 3 (2)Rattle with coral soother, from silver collection of Elizabeth Conyngham, mistress of George IV of EnglandRattle with coral soother, from silver collection of Elizabeth Conyngham, mistress of George IV of EnglandWhistle and Bells, 1795-1800, Paul Revere silver collection, Worcester Art MuseumWhistle and Bells, 1795-1800, Paul Revere silver collection, Worcester Art MuseumBateman - Teething Stick and Whistle - side view - HNTBateman - Teething Stick and Whistle - side view - HNTChild's rattle and teetherChild's rattle and teetherHochet à grelots Musée du Jouet 19072017 1Hochet à grelots Musée du Jouet 19072017 1Nuggikette ElefantNuggikette ElefantPoems (1852) (14782176132)Poems (1852) (14782176132)Hilliard Elizabeth Stuart and Son c. 1615Hilliard Elizabeth Stuart and Son c. 1615RattleRattle16th and 17th century toy rattles16th and 17th century toy rattlesTeething (?) Amulet with White CoralTeething (?) Amulet with White CoralRattle, Whistle, and BellsRattle, Whistle, and BellsSkallra-visselpipa, 1680-tal, använd av Karl XI:s barn.Skallra-visselpipa, 1680-tal, använd av Karl XI:s barn.Bateman - Teething Stick and Whistle - HNTBateman - Teething Stick and Whistle - HNTDental amulets and charms.Dental amulets and charms.

More from Medieval & Early Modern Europe: Pilgrim badges · Reliquary pendants & devotional lockets · Agnus Dei waxes · Magic & inscribed rings · Natural magic: toadstones, bezoars, serpent tongues · Fraisenketten & Charivari (charm chains) · Breverl & paper blessings · Coral amulets · Wax & metal votive offerings · Saints’ medals & protective crosses · Other & unsorted Medieval
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Anything in the gallery can be made: any piece, any tradition, in its own material or yours, by hand from the documented original. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted before anything is made. I reply within one business day.