Baby Rattle

A small silver rattle with bells made of silver on top. The handle is made of a yellowish ivory. It is sitting on a marble table and in the background there are pots with pink flowers.
Rattle in the Eldon House Nursery

Country of Origin: Likely England 
Year: ca. 1890  
Materials: Ivory and silver  

Children’s items are not common in the Eldon House collection. This rattle is one of the few surviving items belonging to the Harris children. Rattles have been used for over 2500 years and have been used to improve hand-eye coordination in babies, to keep them occupied, and for teething. It became popular in Europe and the Americas to make rattles out of silver. Many, like the one from the Eldon House collection, had bells to stimulate the child. The handle of this piece is made of ivory.  

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron. We honour and respect the history, languages and culture of the diverse Indigenous people who call this territory home.

We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.

The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures, and customs.