Not currently on display at the V&A

Furniture Set

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.

Susan Wynter's love for creating wooden toys that spark the imagination and are the source of endless entertainment can be seen through this 10 piece Pine Cottage furniture set. The set, though simplistic in nature, gives variety and flair to a subject matter that has so often been done by toy makers in the past. The natural wood and the small details like the carved hearts creates an atmosphere reminiscent of home and comfort, enticing all ages to take part in playing with this set.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 10 parts.

  • Furniture Set
  • Furniture Set
  • Furniture Set
  • Furniture Set
  • Furniture Set
  • Furniture Set
  • Furniture Set
  • Furniture Set
  • Furniture Set
  • Furniture Set
Materials and techniques
Brief description
10 piece Pine Cottage furniture set, wood, made by Susan Wynter, England, 1946-1984
Physical description
Pine cottage furniture set consisting of: 1 table, 4 chairs, 1 dresser, 2 beds, 1 rocking chair and 1 cradle. The pieces of furniture are made in a rustic style and have been varnished, so they have a brown colour. The heads of the chairs, rocking chair, beds and cradle, as well as the upper part of the dresser, are rounded and have a heart-shaped hole. The dresser has a shelf on top and a cupboard with two doors underneath that can be opened. The cradle has a blanket made of pink felt and a stripe of crochet on each end.
Underneath the cradle there is a rectangular white sticker with green characters reading: “Susan Wynter toys hand made in England”. And underneath the rocking chair there is a round stamp reading: “SUSAN WYNTER TOYS”.
Credit line
Given by Susan Murray
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.

Susan Wynter's love for creating wooden toys that spark the imagination and are the source of endless entertainment can be seen through this 10 piece Pine Cottage furniture set. The set, though simplistic in nature, gives variety and flair to a subject matter that has so often been done by toy makers in the past. The natural wood and the small details like the carved hearts creates an atmosphere reminiscent of home and comfort, enticing all ages to take part in playing with this set.
Collection
Accession number
B.80:1 to 10-2014

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Record createdJuly 19, 2014
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