Zoo Zag
Puzzle
ca. 1950 (made)
ca. 1950 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Zoo Zag is a classic example of puzzle design of the 1950s. It was produced for the toy company Abbatt toys and designed by famous exhibition and museum designer, James Gardner, who was perhaps most renowned for his work related to the Festival of Britain. Paul and Marjorie Abbatt made toys for children from 1932 and were interested in designing and producing toys that aided development through play. The Modernist architect Erno Goldfinger designed their shop according to his Modernist principles and their requirement for child friendly access and appeal.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Title | Zoo Zag (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Plywood cut with a jigsaw and painted |
| Brief description | Zoo Zag wooden puzzle, produced by Abbatt Toys and designed by James Gardner (1909-1995) CBE RDI FRSA, made in England, ca.1950 |
| Physical description | 38 piece jigsaw puzzle (3 pieces are missing). The puzzle is made of two layers of plywood. The upper layer has been machine cut to form the loose puzzle pieces and the remaining surrounds glued down on to the base board. The puzzle has two levels of visual information. the upper one is an illustration of the layout of a zoo, complete with animals in cages, paths and entrances. The lower layer, viewed when pieces of the puzzle are not in place shows the printed names of the animals that correspond with the upper pieces to be placed on top. The three missing pieces are for the snakes, dromedary camels and a walk way. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Eve Harrison |
| Production | Designed by James Gardner for the Abbatt's. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Zoo Zag is a classic example of puzzle design of the 1950s. It was produced for the toy company Abbatt toys and designed by famous exhibition and museum designer, James Gardner, who was perhaps most renowned for his work related to the Festival of Britain. Paul and Marjorie Abbatt made toys for children from 1932 and were interested in designing and producing toys that aided development through play. The Modernist architect Erno Goldfinger designed their shop according to his Modernist principles and their requirement for child friendly access and appeal. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.67:1, 2-2009 |
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| Record created | March 19, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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