Victorian Christening Gift
These Victorian christening gift items are lasting silver and mother of pearl pieces meant to mark a child's birth.
Victorian Christening Gift
A Victorian christening gift comprises silver mugs, tankards, baby rattles, and boxed cutlery sets made to celebrate a child's entry into the church. You are most likely to meet solid silver christening mugs and multi-piece cutlery sets spanning the nineteenth century.
The objects stem from the Victorian and Edwardian periods, taking forms such as baluster mugs and mother of pearl teethers. Makers fashioned these items in sterling silver and silver gilt, often housing cutlery sets within fitted velvet or silk lined boxes.
What varies in quality
The distinction between ordinary and superior pieces lies in the crispness of the hand engraving and the weight of the silver used in the mug or rattle. Thicker gauge silver maintains its structural integrity and resists denting over generations.
Fitted presentation boxes complete with original silk and velvet linings elevate the standing of a boxed set. Well-executed repoussé work with deep relief and clear hallmarks adds considerable merit to an individual mug or rattle.
Victorian Christening Gift Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for victorian 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.
Listings feature sterling silver, silver gilt, mother of pearl, leather, velvet, and silk across Victorian and Edwardian items.
George Unite·Thomas Harwood and Co·John Round
The Victorian Christening Gift Glossary
- Baluster
- A vertical architectural form with a swelling lower portion, frequently seen in the profile of nineteenth-century christening tankards and mugs.
- Repoussé
- A metalworking technique where the silversmith hammers the design from the reverse side to form raised ornamentation on the front.
- Silver Gilt
- Sterling silver that has been coated with a thin layer of gold on its surface, often used on the interior of christening cups.
- Teether
- A solid implement attached to a rattle, historically carved from mother of pearl for an infant to bite during teething.
Victorian Christening Gift: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Victorian christening gift?
It is a commemorative silver or mother of pearl item, such as a mug, rattle, or cutlery set, given to mark a baby's baptism during the nineteenth century.
These pieces served both as practical items for a child's daily use and as enduring keepsakes meant to be kept for a lifetime.
How were silver rattles used?
Silver rattles combined a noisemaker with a teether made of mother of pearl or coral, designed to soothe an infant during teething.
Many examples also incorporated a whistle into the handle, adding an extra element of amusement for the child.
How do I date a silver mug?
Dating relies heavily on the official hallmarks stamped into the silver, which indicate the assay office, standard, and specific year letter.
Stylistic clues such as Rococo scroll handles or floral embossing also help narrow down the decade of manufacture.
Can these items still be used?
While many owners keep them purely for display or collection, silver mugs and cutlery sets remain physically robust enough for ceremonial use.
Careful cleaning with appropriate silver polish preserves the metal without wearing away the engraved details.