Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at Young V&A
Imagine Gallery, Adventure, Case 9

Willy

Toy Boat
1945-1950 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A tug boat called 'Willy', one of a 'fleet' of six boats made by Alan V. (Sam Smith). Painted and varnished wood with attachments of string and paper.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleWilly (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Painted and varnished wood, string and paper
Brief description
'Willy', a wooden tug-boat made in England by Sam Smith in the late 1940s
Physical description
A tug boat called 'Willy', one of a 'fleet' of six boats made by Alan V. (Sam Smith). Painted and varnished wood with attachments of string and paper.
Dimensions
  • Height: 65mm
  • Width: 43mm
  • Depth: 134mm
Credit line
Bequest of Grace Lovat Fraser
Object history
This fleet of boats made from string and paper were made by Sam Smith when he first set up as a toymaker. For a brief period he signed his name "Alan V".
Part of the Lovat Fraser Bequest (Misc.352/465-1978), bequeathed to the museum by Grace Lovat Fraser, widow of Claud Lovat Fraser the artist. The initial basis of the collection was a group of Indian toys belonging to Lovat which he gave to Grace as an engagement present.
Production
Sam Smith signed his work "Alan V" for a short time after setting up in business in the 1940s
Subject depicted
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
MISC.353:3-1978

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Record createdMarch 18, 2004
Record URL
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