Noah's Ark thumbnail 1
Noah's Ark thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at Young V&A
Play Gallery, Sound it Out, case 18

This object consists of 52 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Noah's Ark

1990 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Noah's ark set, solid wood and plywood, painted and stained, with original packaging.

A white card box, printed in colours to show photographs of the made-up model, details and descriptions of the manufacturer and a guarantee signed by Heinz H. Lorenz; on the sides and base are illustrations of the Biblical story. The box lid lifts to reveal a clear plastic window. Inside is a white card lining whihc houses the parts of the Ark beneath the window, plus another white card lining to house additional parts and a pre-formed clear plastic shelf to hold the figures which fits inside the Ark.

The Ark's base is of natural plywood, it slots into two wooden sides which are stained mid-brown and with a plain dowel between them at each end. The sides, which are rounded at the bottom, are grooved to represent timbers, and one has a cut-out panel and slot to accept the staircase. The base has four small posts which support the structure of the Ark's body. The whole is mounted on four orange wheels which turn on plain dowel axles. The two sides are also of natural plywood with a slot at each end which fit the matching slots in the end panels, and two curved windows. One of the sides has a large cut-out 'U' shape in the centre in place of the windows. The two plywood end panels have a slot at each end to fit the matching side panel slots, a sloping top with tongues to fit roof panels, and a cut-out window. The two roof panels are painted red, with a slot each end to fit the tongues of the end panels. There is a green disc with a cut-out each side to fit the edge of a window to become a perch or sill. There is a yellow ladder with three natural wood rungs. There is a yellow staircase or ramp which fits into the cut-away section of the Ark base.

Figures, all carved and stained wood, all printed with illustrated details:
Noah and Mrs Noah, natural wood printed with black lines to illustrate them.
Two hippos, dark brown, printed with yellow lines.
Two tigers, yellow, printed with black lines.
Two cows, yellow, printed with red lines.
Two sheep, white, printed with brown lines.
Monkey, seated, orange, printed with black lines.
Monkey, arm raised, dark orange, printed with black lines.
Two giraffes, yellow, printed with red details.
Chicken, white, printed with red lines.
Chicken, red, printed with yellow lines.
Two elephants, grey, printed with black lines.
Two camels, orange, printed with brown lines.
Two tortoises, green, printed with black lines.
Lion and lioness, yellow, printed with brown lines.
Two doves, white, printed with blue lines.
Two zebras, white, printed with black lines.
Two donkeys, grey, printed with black lines.
Two dogs, red, printed with black lines.
Two owls, dark brown, printed with yellow lines.

There are also two chairs and two tables.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 52 parts.

  • Box
  • Packaging
  • Packaging
  • Packaging
  • Model
  • Model
  • Model
  • Model
  • Model
  • Model
  • Model
  • Model
  • Model
  • Model
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Furniture
  • Furniture
  • Furniture
  • Furniture
Materials and techniques
Wood and plywood, carved, painted, stained and printed; printed card, plastic
Brief description
Noah's Ark set, Lorenz, Germany, 1990
Physical description
Noah's ark set, solid wood and plywood, painted and stained, with original packaging.

A white card box, printed in colours to show photographs of the made-up model, details and descriptions of the manufacturer and a guarantee signed by Heinz H. Lorenz; on the sides and base are illustrations of the Biblical story. The box lid lifts to reveal a clear plastic window. Inside is a white card lining whihc houses the parts of the Ark beneath the window, plus another white card lining to house additional parts and a pre-formed clear plastic shelf to hold the figures which fits inside the Ark.

The Ark's base is of natural plywood, it slots into two wooden sides which are stained mid-brown and with a plain dowel between them at each end. The sides, which are rounded at the bottom, are grooved to represent timbers, and one has a cut-out panel and slot to accept the staircase. The base has four small posts which support the structure of the Ark's body. The whole is mounted on four orange wheels which turn on plain dowel axles. The two sides are also of natural plywood with a slot at each end which fit the matching slots in the end panels, and two curved windows. One of the sides has a large cut-out 'U' shape in the centre in place of the windows. The two plywood end panels have a slot at each end to fit the matching side panel slots, a sloping top with tongues to fit roof panels, and a cut-out window. The two roof panels are painted red, with a slot each end to fit the tongues of the end panels. There is a green disc with a cut-out each side to fit the edge of a window to become a perch or sill. There is a yellow ladder with three natural wood rungs. There is a yellow staircase or ramp which fits into the cut-away section of the Ark base.

Figures, all carved and stained wood, all printed with illustrated details:
Noah and Mrs Noah, natural wood printed with black lines to illustrate them.
Two hippos, dark brown, printed with yellow lines.
Two tigers, yellow, printed with black lines.
Two cows, yellow, printed with red lines.
Two sheep, white, printed with brown lines.
Monkey, seated, orange, printed with black lines.
Monkey, arm raised, dark orange, printed with black lines.
Two giraffes, yellow, printed with red details.
Chicken, white, printed with red lines.
Chicken, red, printed with yellow lines.
Two elephants, grey, printed with black lines.
Two camels, orange, printed with brown lines.
Two tortoises, green, printed with black lines.
Lion and lioness, yellow, printed with brown lines.
Two doves, white, printed with blue lines.
Two zebras, white, printed with black lines.
Two donkeys, grey, printed with black lines.
Two dogs, red, printed with black lines.
Two owls, dark brown, printed with yellow lines.

There are also two chairs and two tables.
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
'ARCHE NOAH / LORENZ SPIEL WELT' (Printed in red and green on the reverse side of the ladder/ramp.)
Translation
Noah's Ark / Lorenz's Game World
Gallery label
H H Lorenz is Europe's largest manufacturer of wooden dice and tumble finished woodn shapes as toys and toy components. These representations of animals, trees, cars and people are usually made up in sets. Lorenz also manufactures the excellent Baufix construction sets. UK agent CHILD'S PLAY (INTERNATIONAL) LTD. (1990)
Credit line
Given by Heinz H. Lorenz
Object history
Misc.351 to 366-1991 were presented through Child's Play International and were shown in the museum's 1990 Wooden Toys exhibition [91/717]

On entry to the museum its condition was noted as 'mint; one lining torn'
Subjects depicted
Literary references
  • The Old Testament
  • Genesis 6-9
Other number
4000 373 142549 - catalogue number
Collection
Accession number
MISC.351-1991

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
Record URL
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