This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Tinky Winky

Soft Toy
1997 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Unjointed humanoid figure with a soft body, limbs and head of dark purple fabric. The face is soft plastic with brown sleeping eyes and an open smiling mouth. The ears are lined with a beige fabric and there is a rectangle of blue/green plasticised material inserted into the front of the body. There is an antenna shaped like a triangle on top of the head, also of dark purple fabric. The hands are covered on one side with a deeper purple fabric. The soles of the feet are grey with grey plastic bobbles.

The packaging is a rectangular piece of colour printed card with a rounded top and a piece cut out to form a hook. The front shows blue sky with clouds and green hills with flowers. The back has a photograph of all four Teletubbies with information about each one printed in white. There are two holes in the card through which the soft toy is attached by means of a plastic tie

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Soft Toy
  • Character Toy
  • Card
Titles
  • Tinky Winky (manufacturer's title)
  • Teletubbies (series title)
Materials and techniques
Nylon fleece, brushed nylon, nylon plush, polycotton, PVC, printed card
Brief description
Teletubby, Tinky Winky, character soft toy made in China by Golden Bear Products in 1997
Physical description
Unjointed humanoid figure with a soft body, limbs and head of dark purple fabric. The face is soft plastic with brown sleeping eyes and an open smiling mouth. The ears are lined with a beige fabric and there is a rectangle of blue/green plasticised material inserted into the front of the body. There is an antenna shaped like a triangle on top of the head, also of dark purple fabric. The hands are covered on one side with a deeper purple fabric. The soles of the feet are grey with grey plastic bobbles.

The packaging is a rectangular piece of colour printed card with a rounded top and a piece cut out to form a hook. The front shows blue sky with clouds and green hills with flowers. The back has a photograph of all four Teletubbies with information about each one printed in white. There are two holes in the card through which the soft toy is attached by means of a plastic tie
Dimensions
  • Height: 350mm (Note: Dimensions of toy with paper backing)
  • Width: 290mm (Note: Dimensions of toy with paper backing)
  • Depth: 110mm (Note: Dimensions of toy with paper backing)
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Teletubbies / Teletubbies characters and logo © 1996 / Ragdoll Productions (UK) Ltd. / Licensed by BBC Worldwide Ltd. / SURFACE WASH / WITH WARM SOAPY WATER / CE Golden Bear Products Ltd / Telford TF1 4EY / Made in China / CC10' (Label; Sewn into back top seam of left leg)
  • 'Teletubbies™ / Over the hills and far away, Teletubbies come to play / Tinky Winky' (Textual information printed on front of box)
Credit line
Given by Golden Bear Products Ltd.
Object history
Given to the Museum for display in the Top Christmas Toys Exhibition 1997/98

Historical significance: Teletubbies figures were awarded Toy of the Year for 1997 by the British Association of Toy Retailers
Historical context
Teletubbies is a very successful BBC television series of the 1990s, devised by Ragdoll Productions. The character merchandising proved extremely popular with demand exceeding supply for Christmas 1997
Production
Reason For Production: Retail
Literary referenceTeletubbies
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
B.328:1-1998

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdApril 14, 1999
Record URL
Download as: JSON