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Pig

January 1998 - August 1998
Place of origin

light wood tree branch with the remains of the bark
whittled at one end into a flattened snout; the rear end is slightly rounded


Object details

Object type
Materials and techniques
light wood and bark, whittled
Brief description
Traditional stylised figure of a pig carved from a tree branch in Estonia in 1998
Physical description
light wood tree branch with the remains of the bark
whittled at one end into a flattened snout; the rear end is slightly rounded
Dimensions
  • Length: 5.5cm
Credit line
Given by the Tartu Toy Museum, Estonia
Object history
Given by the curator of the Tartu Toy Museum, Tiia Toomet, as an example of traditional toys of Estonian peasant children. The gift was accompanied by books by the same person.

Historical significance: CATTLE OF WOODEN PEGS
Wooden animals were the oldest and most popular traditional toys of Estonian peasant children. To pasture cows and sheep was children's job in old Estonian villages. While looking fter real cattle the children made a toy herd for themselves to play with. They cut animals of branches of trees. The system was simple and similar all over Estonia. Only the most important features of the animal were marked. All aminals have four legs, therefore the legs were not important. But cows and oxen had horns - so the horns were cut to the stick. Pigs were round and had snouts. Horses were distinguished from the other animals by their upright necks. Horse as the most important animals were sometimes made bigger and they got legs and even tails and manes.

(Details given by the donor)
Historical context
This set of toys were made by Estonian children for themselves to play with.
Production
donated September 9, 1998
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
B.320-1998

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Record createdNovember 16, 1998
Record URL
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