Ornament: Snowbabies, Christmas Baby's First Rattle, Original Box, Department 56, Vintage 1996

A Department 56 Snowbabies "Baby's First Rattle" ornament in soft, unglazed bisque porcelain, still in its original box with cord and tag. A sweet keepsake from the line's 1996 offerings.

• Maker: Department 56
• Materials: Bisque porcelain
• Dimensions: 5.0 inches Long, Box 6.0 inches Long x 2.0 inches Deep x 2.75 inches Wide.
• Origin: Taiwan
• Era: Vintage 1996
• Condition: Ornament is excellent, never been removed from box; original box shows some wear. Please review photos closely before purchasing, as all sales are final.

This Snowbabies ornament (item #68828) carries the "Baby's First Rattle" theme in the line's signature unglazed bisque porcelain. It still has its original hanging cord and tag and comes in its original box, has never been removed, box shows some wear.  With Department 56 routinely retiring its creations, the pieces you see today are brief offerings, this one was retired in December of 1998.  

A natural gift for a new baby's first Christmas, and a good fit for a nursery tree or a Snowbabies collection.

Department 56 was inspired by tiny early 1900s, German bisque figurines, covered in crushed porcelain granules to mimic snow, so they revived the idea in 1986, trademarking the Snowbabies line with designs by artist Kristi Jensen Pierro, and gave it rounder, sweeter faces and hand-painted details. Department 56 itself began in 1976 as the wholesale gift imports division of Bachman's, a Minneapolis florist, taking its name from the number Bachman's assigned that department. Now based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, it became known for its lighted villages and Snowbabies figurines. It was acquired by Enesco in 2009, and Enesco was in turn acquired by Ad Populum in January 2023.

Browse our shop for more porcelain ornaments to round out your collection.