Antique Christening Gift
An antique christening gift marks a child's welcome into the world through enduring materials like sterling silver and mother of pearl.
Antique Christening Gift
An antique christening gift typically takes the form of a silver mug, tankard, boxed cutlery set, or baby rattle spanning the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian periods. These pieces were traditionally presented to mark a birth or baptism, designed for both ceremonial use and daily childhood service.
The selections available here lean heavily towards sterling silver christening mugs and multi-piece boxed cutlery sets originating from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Alongside these drinking vessels and spoons, collectors encounter specialised items including mother of pearl rattles and silver gilt baptism spoons.
How They Were Made
Makers shaped sterling silver and silver gilt through hammering, casting, and repoussé work, creating baluster forms with detailed scroll handles and floral engravings. Cutlery and holloware often incorporated organic additions such as mother of pearl handles and coral elements for rattles.
Boxed presentation sets combined polished silver with fitted interiors lined in velvet and silk to protect the delicate items during storage and gifting. Assay office hallmarks stamped into the metal recorded the year, city, and standard of purity for each piece.
Antique Christening Gift Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for christening gift among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
What Varies in Quality
The standard of an antique christening gift depends upon the crispness of its hand-engraved decoration and the weight of the silver used in its construction. Heavier gauge metal resists denting better and maintains the structural integrity of thin-walled mugs and hollow rattles.
Completeness dictates value in cased sets, where matching hallmarks across all forks, knives, and spoons confirm an original pairing rather than a later assembled collection. The survival of fitted presentation boxes in sound condition further elevates the stature of a piece.
R E Stone·Tiffany & Co·William Bateman·George Unite
The Antique Christening Gift Glossary
- Sterling silver
- An alloy comprising ninety-two point five percent silver and seven point five percent other metals, typically copper, chosen for durability in functional items.
- Porringer
- A small, shallow bowl with one or two horizontal flat handles, frequently utilised as a child's cereal bowl or christening presentation piece.
- Silver gilt
- Sterling silver that has been coated with a thin layer of gold through an electrochemical or fire-gilding process, adding a rich golden sheen to the interior or surface.
- Baluster form
- A vertical architectural shape featuring a rounded lower body that tapers inward towards a narrow neck, commonly seen on tankards and mugs.
- Assay office
- An official body responsible for testing the purity of precious metals and stamping items with compulsory hallmark symbols to verify standard.
Antique Christening Gift: Frequently Asked Questions
How were silver christening mugs used?
Silver christening mugs served both as ornamental keepsakes and as actual drinking vessels for growing children.
The sturdy sterling silver construction allowed the mug to withstand daily use at the nursery table while retaining its commemorative value.
How do I identify a Victorian rattle?
Victorian baby rattles are typically constructed from sterling silver paired with mother of pearl teethers or coral handles, often incorporating small bells and whistles.
Assay office hallmarks stamped directly onto the silver surface help confirm the nineteenth-century production date.
Are christening sets always matching?
Many Victorian and Edwardian christening sets were sold in fitted velvet or silk-lined presentation boxes containing a knife, fork, and spoon.
While matched sets share identical hallmarks and engraving styles, some surviving boxed assemblies contain pieces gathered together at a later date.