One of the earliest toys devised for children, baby rattles have evolved over the centuries into a variety of shapes and sizes. They are symbolic of how design responds to socio-economic factors and cultural identity, and represent a design chronology of style, function, sound and materials. This exhibition features over 100 rattles from the important collection of Lu and Maynard Lyndon, the founders and owners of Placewares+LyndonDesign in Gualala, California.

Curated by Lu and Maynard Lyndon and Tim McNeil 

One of the earliest toys devised for children, baby rattles over the centuries have evolved into a variety of shapes made from many materials. We began collecting in 1967. What fascinates us is the seemingly infinite number of forms that people in many cultures have used to produce an object to amuse a child, make a sound, be nice to touch and hold in a small hand that reaches out to explore and grasp. Shaken, the rattle makes perhaps a tinny sound of a bell or perhaps a softer sound of seeds inside. In any case, what results is a smile or maybe a giggle and probably soothed tears—a universal experience. We’ve had great pleasure searching and finding these gems one by one, and now we’re sharing them with you.

—Maynard and Lu Lyndon