The objects above are remarkably ornate baby rattles/ teething toys, as crafted by a master silversmith. They are attributed to Nicholas Roosevelt, an 18th-century American craftsman, and are now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This rare and precious gold toy, with its elaborate chased and repoussé ornament, might have been given as a lavish christening gift. It consists of a whistle, a piece of teething coral, six of the original eight bells, and a loop to hang a toy on a ribbon around the child's neck. Aside from being a teething device, the coral in the whistle and bells was thought to ward off enchantment and disease.
One can't help but wonder if creations such as this had some influence on the development of the idiom "bells and whistles" to describe supplementary showy functions.
Link, via Titam et le Sirop d'Érable.
Are these of religious significance? (then I know what they are)
Although I refuse to speculate what purpose they might serve on grounds of decency
Torah finials are the decorative trim put on the ends of the stick the vellum (they aren't written on paper) is wrapped around.
Yads are pointers (if the red bits are permanent) that are used when reading from the Torah, to prevent damaging the page with your fingertip and they look weird so that it doesn't appear to be an idol that'st is being worshiped when reading from the Torah.
These are Jewish ritual pointers, used to point to the text during the Torah reading from the parchment Torah scrolls.
Shalom!
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080510/FEATURES/805100304/-1/FEATURES0604
sorry if i'm too straight up lewd.
I'll go ahead and revise the post tonight.
Steveious Jobacka.
P.s. - Beblamero can suck Fishes.
JUST KIDDING!