Not currently on display at the V&A

Magic Top

Set of Spinning Tops
1920-1939 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The box lid is card covered with brown paper with a label on the top printed in colours to show the title Magic Top, MADE IN JAPAN, and an illustration of two children playing with the top. The box lining is card covered with paper and has three circles cut out which house the tops. Inside is a spinner/plunger of metal enamelled red on the outside. It operates in a plunging motion and the bottom ends in a cup shape which fits over the upper centres of the tops. The tops are two parts sealed together around the outer edge, made of a brass covered metal, round and flattish with the top surfaces coloured in patterns. In the centre of the underside is formed a small round bump over which fits the plunger cup. There is a top with an eye shaped pattern in red, blue, white, green and yellow. a top with a spiral pattern in red, green, white and yellow and one with a geometric pattern in red, yellow, green, white and blue.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 7 parts.

  • Box Lid
  • Box Base
  • Box Liner
  • Plunger
  • Spinning Top
  • Spinning Top
  • Spinning Top
TitleMagic Top (manufacturer's title)
Brief description
Boxed set of metal spinning tops, MagicTop, made in Japan in the 1920s or 1930s
Physical description
The box lid is card covered with brown paper with a label on the top printed in colours to show the title Magic Top, MADE IN JAPAN, and an illustration of two children playing with the top. The box lining is card covered with paper and has three circles cut out which house the tops. Inside is a spinner/plunger of metal enamelled red on the outside. It operates in a plunging motion and the bottom ends in a cup shape which fits over the upper centres of the tops. The tops are two parts sealed together around the outer edge, made of a brass covered metal, round and flattish with the top surfaces coloured in patterns. In the centre of the underside is formed a small round bump over which fits the plunger cup. There is a top with an eye shaped pattern in red, blue, white, green and yellow. a top with a spiral pattern in red, green, white and yellow and one with a geometric pattern in red, yellow, green, white and blue.
Dimensions
  • Length: 22.2cm
  • Width: 9.5cm
  • Depth: 2.4cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
on box lid MADE IN JAPAN
Credit line
Bequest of A. Sanderson
Collection
Accession number
MISC.702:1 to 7-1992

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Record createdFebruary 23, 2004
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest