Gran'pop
Soft Toy
ca. 1938 (manufactured)
ca. 1938 (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This monkey was made by Merrythought and bears the makers label on its right foot. Merrythought Toys first opened their factory in 1930 in Ironbridge. However Merrythought toys first began in 1919 when W.G.Holmes went into partnership with G.H Laxton, producing a mohair yarn for the toys in a small spinning mill. Some of the employees for Merrythought were previously employed by Chad Valley.
Florence Atwood was an employee who was hearing impaired and mute. She produced the entire range of toys for the first Merrythought line in 1931. She became the chief designer for Merrythought until her death in 1949. The company still operates from its factory in Ironbridge, Shropshire.
This particular monkey is called 'Gran'pop'. It is based on Lawson Wood's comical monkeys and were produced by Merrythought from 1932 to 1965. The last Lawson Wood design made by Merrythought was 'Mother Monkey', who was produced in 1965.
Florence Atwood was an employee who was hearing impaired and mute. She produced the entire range of toys for the first Merrythought line in 1931. She became the chief designer for Merrythought until her death in 1949. The company still operates from its factory in Ironbridge, Shropshire.
This particular monkey is called 'Gran'pop'. It is based on Lawson Wood's comical monkeys and were produced by Merrythought from 1932 to 1965. The last Lawson Wood design made by Merrythought was 'Mother Monkey', who was produced in 1965.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Gran'pop (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Mohair and velvet |
| Brief description | Soft toy, mohair and velvet, 'Gran'pop' monkey, made by Merrythought Limited, England, ca. 1938. |
| Physical description | A large Merrythought monkey with golden mohair, velvet face, ears, hands and feet. It has the Merrythought label stitched to its right foot and reads, 'Merrythought, Hygienic Toys, Made in England'. The monkey has long arms which end at its feet with velvet hands attached. The fingers and toes are well defined. The head, arms and legs are all jointed so that they can swivel. The face is also made from velvet and the features are painted on, with black eyes and pink highlights on the lips, eyebrows and nose. The ears stick out either side of the head and are sewn on. The face is slightly worn with some lighter patches. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'Merrythought / HYGIENIC TOYS / Made in England' (Label on right foot) |
| Summary | This monkey was made by Merrythought and bears the makers label on its right foot. Merrythought Toys first opened their factory in 1930 in Ironbridge. However Merrythought toys first began in 1919 when W.G.Holmes went into partnership with G.H Laxton, producing a mohair yarn for the toys in a small spinning mill. Some of the employees for Merrythought were previously employed by Chad Valley. Florence Atwood was an employee who was hearing impaired and mute. She produced the entire range of toys for the first Merrythought line in 1931. She became the chief designer for Merrythought until her death in 1949. The company still operates from its factory in Ironbridge, Shropshire. This particular monkey is called 'Gran'pop'. It is based on Lawson Wood's comical monkeys and were produced by Merrythought from 1932 to 1965. The last Lawson Wood design made by Merrythought was 'Mother Monkey', who was produced in 1965. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.142-2010 |
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| Record created | June 1, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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