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Carousel

1960s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

British toymaker Susan Wynter (1923- 2013) started making objects from wood when she was eight years old. Growing up, she lived in London near a billiard table maker where she would use the wooden off-cuts and leftover green baize to create her own objects. As Susan grew older and had children, she began to design toys for the nursery, focusing on both function and education. Through this new approach to toymaking, Susan Wynter began to gain international fame, exhibiting at the London Design Centre, the Venice Biennale, and in various trade fairs in British Pavillions.

Her business, the Toy Trumpet, began as a small toy shop in St. Ives where Susan started designing and making high quality wooden toys. Through her toys Susan was keen to promote exploration through and also designed toys for children with special needs. These toys were then sold to stores like Harrods and Fortnum and Mason. In the late 1960s Susan moved the business to Essex and settled in Brightlingsea where she employed local people. The company grew exponentially, providing toys for major companies like James Galt and the Educational Supply Association.

The carousel, a prominent figure in childhood toys, brings together a sense of wonder and nostalgia. In this carousel, Susan Wynter has taken the idea of the traditional carousel and updated it, making it both modern and fun. The rich colors and subsitution of birds for horses allows for an amusing and playful way to engage in an old classic.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Painted wood
Brief description
Moving carousel with birds, wood, made by Susan Wynter, England, 1946-1984
Physical description
Moving carousel with a round base standing on a squared pedestal and three blue birds decorated with orange eyes, beak, wings and stripes on the tail. It is covered with a round roof with a gap in the middle that is surrounded by a blue and a yellow circle. The roof is supported by three rods. There is also a central rod which links the roof with the base and has a yellow sphere on top that is connected to the birds by three white strings to make the carousel turn in different directions. It has a sticker attached to the roof that reads Design Centre London.
Dimensions
  • Width: 13.5cm
  • Height: 19cm
Credit line
Given by Susan Murray
Subjects depicted
Summary
British toymaker Susan Wynter (1923- 2013) started making objects from wood when she was eight years old. Growing up, she lived in London near a billiard table maker where she would use the wooden off-cuts and leftover green baize to create her own objects. As Susan grew older and had children, she began to design toys for the nursery, focusing on both function and education. Through this new approach to toymaking, Susan Wynter began to gain international fame, exhibiting at the London Design Centre, the Venice Biennale, and in various trade fairs in British Pavillions.

Her business, the Toy Trumpet, began as a small toy shop in St. Ives where Susan started designing and making high quality wooden toys. Through her toys Susan was keen to promote exploration through and also designed toys for children with special needs. These toys were then sold to stores like Harrods and Fortnum and Mason. In the late 1960s Susan moved the business to Essex and settled in Brightlingsea where she employed local people. The company grew exponentially, providing toys for major companies like James Galt and the Educational Supply Association.

The carousel, a prominent figure in childhood toys, brings together a sense of wonder and nostalgia. In this carousel, Susan Wynter has taken the idea of the traditional carousel and updated it, making it both modern and fun. The rich colors and subsitution of birds for horses allows for an amusing and playful way to engage in an old classic.
Collection
Accession number
B.57-2014

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Record createdJuly 19, 2014
Record URL
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