Counting Toy
1946-1984 (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 importance of learning to count as well as becoming familiar with numbers is something that Susan Wynter likes to promote through her wooden toys. She often uses games and play sets to aid in children's ability to learn. In this peg wheel toy, Susan Wynter again proves that it is possible to mix fun with education. This toy allows children to use colourful pegs to identify numbers and learn to count in an enjoyable and engaging way.
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 importance of learning to count as well as becoming familiar with numbers is something that Susan Wynter likes to promote through her wooden toys. She often uses games and play sets to aid in children's ability to learn. In this peg wheel toy, Susan Wynter again proves that it is possible to mix fun with education. This toy allows children to use colourful pegs to identify numbers and learn to count in an enjoyable and engaging way.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 31 parts.
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Materials and techniques | |
Brief description | Peg wheel toy, wood, made by Susan Wynter, England, 1946-1984 |
Physical description | Revolving white wheel decorated with a black edge and a black star with 5 points that go from the centre towards the edge, creating five triangular spaces between the points. Each of the spaces has a black number on it, from 1 to 5, and is pierced with as many holes as numbers are depicted on it. The wheel rests on a rectangular wooden structure decorated with a circle slightly larger than the wheel and divided in 5 parts painted in green, yellow, blue, red and black. It comes with 30 cylindrical pegs, 6 green, 6 yellow, 6 blue, 6 red and 6 black. |
Credit line | Given by Susan Murray |
Subject 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 importance of learning to count as well as becoming familiar with numbers is something that Susan Wynter likes to promote through her wooden toys. She often uses games and play sets to aid in children's ability to learn. In this peg wheel toy, Susan Wynter again proves that it is possible to mix fun with education. This toy allows children to use colourful pegs to identify numbers and learn to count in an enjoyable and engaging way. |
Collection | |
Accession number | B.79:1 to 31-2014 |
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Record created | July 19, 2014 |
Record URL |
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