Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at Young V&A
Play Gallery, Moving and Making, Case 2

Abbatt Developmental Toys for Assessment & Training

Threading Toy
1930s (designed), 1955-1965 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This object was designed in the 1930s, but was not manufactured until the late 1950s or early 1960s. It was sold as part of a range of 'Abbatt Developmental Toys for Assessment & Training' in England, where designer Milan Morgenstern and his family had settled in the late 1930s. This was probably the first range of commercially produced toys designed for children with disabilities.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Educational Toy
  • Ring
  • Ring
  • Ring
TitleAbbatt Developmental Toys for Assessment & Training (series title)
Materials and techniques
Painted plywood, bent metal
Brief description
Threading Toy; circles on a spiral; designed by Milan Morgenstern, made by Paul and Marjorie Abbatt Ltd., High Wycombe, 1960s
Physical description
The base is a square block of plywood with the top and sides varnished, on the base is mounted a metal upright pole which has been bent to form a spiral, the end of the pole is topped with a wooden ball painted red. To be threaded on the pole are three rings, each with the hole cut in the middle which is large enough to pass over the wooden ball. The rings have been painted: one yellow, one blue, one red.
Dimensions
  • Height: 232mm
  • Width: 147mm
  • Depth: 147mm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
'MADE IN ENGLAND' (Stamped on the underside)
Credit line
Given by Dr. Franz Morgenstern
Object history
Given by the son of the designer. It had previously been displayed at the MoC as part of the exhibition 'A Tribute to Marjorie Abbatt', in 1989. See additional notes. See 'Abbatt Developmental Toys' catalogue.
Historical context
Part of a range of toys designed for disabled children. Its design was based on Milan Morgenstern's observations of severely disabled children at the Theodor Heller Foundation in Vienna in the 1930s.
Summary
This object was designed in the 1930s, but was not manufactured until the late 1950s or early 1960s. It was sold as part of a range of 'Abbatt Developmental Toys for Assessment & Training' in England, where designer Milan Morgenstern and his family had settled in the late 1930s. This was probably the first range of commercially produced toys designed for children with disabilities.
Collection
Accession number
B.917-1993

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Record createdApril 17, 2000
Record URL
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