I had previously made a rattle for my cousin’s baby, and wanted to make one for my own 18-month-old. This was constructed in a somewhat similar fashion.

The main difference was that the handle was made from a separate piece and had a tenon fit into a mortise in the head. This also provided the opportunity to only add the beads once the head had been completely finished, and as the handle was being glued in.

The piece overall was meant to be reminiscent of a pawn in chess.