Pirate ship playset, 'Black Seas Barracuda', Lego, 1989

Construction toy representing a two-masted sailing ship, built from 909 ABS LEGO System bricks. The hull is formed from predominantly brown bricks, the decks from black, and railings and other details from yellow. The two masts are hung with four red and white striped square sails, made from a woven synthetic textile. A triangular jib sail in the same pattern is stretched from the bowsprit to the foremast. The model has details typical for a ship of its type and in keeping with the 18th century pirate theme. These are namely: a flying Jolly Roger flags, cargo crane, a figurehead, ship's wheel, rigging, firing cannons with opening gunports, rudder, and captain's cabin beneath the quarterdeck. The cabin is hinged and accessible.

A number of accessories accompany the ship, including eight LEGO Minifigures. A jolly-boat with a pair of red oars flies a small Jolly Roger, and can attach to the main ship via a black string towing line. A crane basket can hang from a hook on the ship's crane. There are two treasure chests with hinged lids, and 16 golden coins imprinted with various values. The figures consist of a pirate captain replete with black bicorn hat, red beard and pegleg; a female pirate with red lipstick; two pirates with eyepatches and blue jackets; five pirates with striped vests and bandanas. There is also a monkey and a bright red parrot. The pirates' weapons consist of 12 grey plastic cutlasses, six flintlock pistols, three muskets and two boarding axes. There is also a square treasure map and a yellow goblet. 24 cylindrical bricks represent cannonballs - these can be loaded and fired from the ship's cannons.

With the ship is its original packaging. This has a hinged lid which on the front shows the fully-assembled model and on the reverse some closer details and possible play scenarios. On the underside of the box base are ideas for alternative models that could be built with the same pieces. A printed paper booklet instructions shows how to build the ship.

Originally purchased for the exhibition A Pirate's Life for Me (V&A Museum of Childhood, 2018-2019)

LEGO was founded in 1932 in Billund, Denmark by carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen (1891-1958) who had turned to toy-making due to the failure of his business during the economic crash of the 1930s. The name of the company was derived from leg godt, meaning ‘play well’ in Danish. Lego’s output in its early years was mainly wooden toys. In 1947, the company purchased an injection moulding machine and a set of UK company Kiddicraft’s interlocking plastic bricks, which they copied. This marked the beginning of LEGO’s journey to becoming the ‘toy of the century’. 

LEGO developed a clever interlocking system for their bricks in 1955, whereby any LEGO brick was able to combine with any other. In 1958, LEGO’s trademark hollow tubes were introduced to their bricks, allowing them to lock together more tightly. LEGO bricks are still made to that same basic design, meaning a brick manufactured in 2021 will combine with a brick made in 1958. The LEGO System allows for ever-expanding building possibilities using a wide range of brick styles, which is a cornerstone of LEGO’s approach to education through play. 

LEGO have produced an enormous number of unique sets in the decades since their System was introduced. In 1978, LEGO introduced Town, Castle and Space themes to their System, followed in 1989 by Pirates, which was inspired by classic depictions of Caribbean pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy (ca. 1715 – ca. 1725). The Pirates models were more complex than the original three themes, and included the company’s first firearms, wildlife and cloth elements. It was also the first time LEGO had developed non-standard faces for Minifigures, including features like eyepatches and beards, and was their first attempt to ascribe personalities and narratives to individual character to aid storytelling. The initial run of the Pirate theme lasted until 1997 and it was subsequently revived full-time in 2009.

From the late-1990s, LEGO’s main financial successes came from sets based on popular media franchises, such as Harry Potter and Star Wars, as well as their diversification into other products and services, like films and video games. As well as children, LEGO has a significant adult following and in recent years has produced many sets specifically for that audience.

Niels Milan Pedersen has worked as a designer for the LEGO Group since 1980. Niels was chiefly responsible for designing the LEGO Pirates sets and counts the Black Seas Barracuda as his favourite set within the theme.

The original production run for this model was 1989-1992.

B.25-2021