Featured Copper Pendant & Chain: Where an' When, Please?

Hearty Thanksgiving greetings to every one of you...Gobble Gobble!

'Twas a toss-up as to whether to post this in Tribal Art or here in Jewelry. The pendant is 4" long, each of the oval links is ~1" long by ~1/4" wide; its hanging length is ~20 1/2". It weighs 2 oz.

The whistle part doesn't...an' I cannot see why. Each of the 3 large globular features contains a bell-bead, an' they, with the 2 tiny hanging bells beneath, make a bright, joyous jingle with every motion.

The 'necklace' has been around awhile, I believe...tho that's based on patina, mostly. It has quite a few bits of minor damage; distortion & etc...I'm tempted to do some careful straightening of the distorted chain links, pending your assessment of its age an' other characteristics. As always, thanks for lookin'!

 

The chain is 20th century Guatemalan or thereabouts. Added later, a lot later.

 

Very good, an' Thanks!
Can you say where it's from? Looks vaguely middle-eastern, to my unskilled eyes.

 

The 'pendant' looks to be a baby rattle, probably victorian and very similar to this one on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/134646927663

 

if one believes what the seller says.........

 

This one really does have all the bells & whistles.

 

Yes, Guatemala, probably 20th, but could be 19th, difficult to tell.
It is a Maya wedding chain, which is put around the bride and groom during the wedding ceremony.

 

And if you don't love me now
You will never love me again
I can still hear you saying
You would never break the chain (never break the chain)

Fleetwood Mac

 

I have a couple of them; they're still being made. All costume now of course, for the tourists. I've never seen one in silver, although they might exist.

 

I have one in silver, my mother got it in Mexico in the early 70s.

 

I saw one at the estate sale this morning, but it was tourist costume. They wanted US$18 for it, i.e. a LOT more than it was worth. Mine is costume; it has vegetables on it. (fitting, considering at the moment I have the mental acuity of an asparagus.)

 

Maybe wear it, and double your acuity?
Just kidding, I know what it's like. My brain is notorious for being uncooperative. And a body to match.

 

Amen to that.

 

I'm thrilled to know it's a 'marriage'...but the links that attach the chain to the rattle would have to be cut to separate them, an' I'm loath to do it. It'll have to remain married, forever.
I have decided to carefully, judiciously manipulate each of the links to restore what original shape may be possible. Pics posted upon whatever success I may achieve in the endeavor.

I'm justly punished, Bronwen...sigh.

Have you looked for such? That would be a real score, an' I just might pursue that a bit!

Let's not be casting aspersions on asparagus, now! I'm quite fond of the European variety...fat, dead-white, pickled an' packed in tall jars...YUM!

It's hell to get old, ain't it? Not a task for sissies, according to Art Linkletter.

 

Looks like they took a link out and twisted the wire inside the bells to attach this. So maybe not a cut needed, but you could always enlist a jeweler to torch it a bit.

That said I think it's a good marriage and interesting like this. Antique baby rattles are a tough sell I would imagine, but people love unique jewelry.

 

It won't be for sale. I've got ladies in my family, an' in a wider circle, who would wear that as-is with bold pride...it'll find a home this holiday season, right close to home. Thanks, mirana!

 

Yayy! The BEST outcome.

 

I acquired my first brain damage around my 7th birthday. So, young. Topped at 20, not that old either, by encephalitis/meningitis and 80-100% disability. E/M has been a regular visitor ever since, leaving an unwanted present every time.

 

Ditto.

I don't think so. There are people who collect them, and even collector's groups and books.

A Dutch collection:
https://www.collectiekeijser.nl/en/