Castle Grayskull
Playset
1981 (manufactured)
1981 (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Playset representing a castle.
1. One half of the castle, with 'jawbridge,' moulded to resemble stone in the shape of a skull with the 'jawbridge' in the bottom centre. On the outside of the bridge is a shield showing a skull, bones and swords; the inside is shaped like a lower jaw with teeth. It is hinged at the bottom and held closed by a slip bolt inside. The inside is moulded with slots to hold floors and other pieces of equipment. The floor is partly covered with a panel of printed paper.
2. Floor, moulded brown plastic, that it slots into the main castle. In the floor is the trapdoor and the throne. The throne can be swivelled and this movement opens and closes the trapdoor. The trapdoor is green covered with a sheet of printed paper (edges are curling up) and the throne is moulded dark yellow plastic with printed paper on the back of the seat. All parts are marked with the catalogue number and some with the trademark details.
3, 4. Two moulded green plastic shapes which form floors at the top of this half of the castle and slot into grooves on either side of the centre panel. Both are marked.
5. Card panel; printed in colours to show a robot character. It slots into grips formed in the left side of the floor (2).
6. Second half of the castle with an open area at the top which can be used to carry the whole. It contains a moulded brown floor with a large area cut away to allow the elevator to pass through it. The elevator is moulded dark yellow plastic with a string to haul it up. The top of the string has a moulded beige 'eagle' shaped bird as its knob.
7. Card panel, printed in colours to show a control panel. It is placed on a knob to the right of the elevator.
8. Weapon stand, orange moulded plastic, with hooks and grooves to houses the various weapons and shield.
9. Shield, beige moulded plastic
10. Axe with long shaft, beige moulded plastic.
11. Pike, beige moulded plastic.
12. Spear, beige moulded plastic.
13. Axe, beige moulded plastic.
14. Sword, beige moulded plastic.
15. Club, beige moulded plastic.
16. Laser gun, beige moulded plastic
17. Cannon support, orange moulded plastic which can be mounted in one of the turrets
18. Cannon, beige moulded plastic
19. Ladder; beige moulded plastic.
20. Flag pole, beige moulded plastic with a floor clip at one end and at the top a knob
21. Flag, paper printed in colours. This is damaged and worn.
1. One half of the castle, with 'jawbridge,' moulded to resemble stone in the shape of a skull with the 'jawbridge' in the bottom centre. On the outside of the bridge is a shield showing a skull, bones and swords; the inside is shaped like a lower jaw with teeth. It is hinged at the bottom and held closed by a slip bolt inside. The inside is moulded with slots to hold floors and other pieces of equipment. The floor is partly covered with a panel of printed paper.
2. Floor, moulded brown plastic, that it slots into the main castle. In the floor is the trapdoor and the throne. The throne can be swivelled and this movement opens and closes the trapdoor. The trapdoor is green covered with a sheet of printed paper (edges are curling up) and the throne is moulded dark yellow plastic with printed paper on the back of the seat. All parts are marked with the catalogue number and some with the trademark details.
3, 4. Two moulded green plastic shapes which form floors at the top of this half of the castle and slot into grooves on either side of the centre panel. Both are marked.
5. Card panel; printed in colours to show a robot character. It slots into grips formed in the left side of the floor (2).
6. Second half of the castle with an open area at the top which can be used to carry the whole. It contains a moulded brown floor with a large area cut away to allow the elevator to pass through it. The elevator is moulded dark yellow plastic with a string to haul it up. The top of the string has a moulded beige 'eagle' shaped bird as its knob.
7. Card panel, printed in colours to show a control panel. It is placed on a knob to the right of the elevator.
8. Weapon stand, orange moulded plastic, with hooks and grooves to houses the various weapons and shield.
9. Shield, beige moulded plastic
10. Axe with long shaft, beige moulded plastic.
11. Pike, beige moulded plastic.
12. Spear, beige moulded plastic.
13. Axe, beige moulded plastic.
14. Sword, beige moulded plastic.
15. Club, beige moulded plastic.
16. Laser gun, beige moulded plastic
17. Cannon support, orange moulded plastic which can be mounted in one of the turrets
18. Cannon, beige moulded plastic
19. Ladder; beige moulded plastic.
20. Flag pole, beige moulded plastic with a floor clip at one end and at the top a knob
21. Flag, paper printed in colours. This is damaged and worn.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 22 parts.
|
| Titles |
|
| Materials and techniques | Injection-moulded plastic, printed card and paper |
| Brief description | Playset, Masters of the Universe, Castle Grayskull, USA; 1983-87 |
| Physical description | Playset representing a castle. 1. One half of the castle, with 'jawbridge,' moulded to resemble stone in the shape of a skull with the 'jawbridge' in the bottom centre. On the outside of the bridge is a shield showing a skull, bones and swords; the inside is shaped like a lower jaw with teeth. It is hinged at the bottom and held closed by a slip bolt inside. The inside is moulded with slots to hold floors and other pieces of equipment. The floor is partly covered with a panel of printed paper. 2. Floor, moulded brown plastic, that it slots into the main castle. In the floor is the trapdoor and the throne. The throne can be swivelled and this movement opens and closes the trapdoor. The trapdoor is green covered with a sheet of printed paper (edges are curling up) and the throne is moulded dark yellow plastic with printed paper on the back of the seat. All parts are marked with the catalogue number and some with the trademark details. 3, 4. Two moulded green plastic shapes which form floors at the top of this half of the castle and slot into grooves on either side of the centre panel. Both are marked. 5. Card panel; printed in colours to show a robot character. It slots into grips formed in the left side of the floor (2). 6. Second half of the castle with an open area at the top which can be used to carry the whole. It contains a moulded brown floor with a large area cut away to allow the elevator to pass through it. The elevator is moulded dark yellow plastic with a string to haul it up. The top of the string has a moulded beige 'eagle' shaped bird as its knob. 7. Card panel, printed in colours to show a control panel. It is placed on a knob to the right of the elevator. 8. Weapon stand, orange moulded plastic, with hooks and grooves to houses the various weapons and shield. 9. Shield, beige moulded plastic 10. Axe with long shaft, beige moulded plastic. 11. Pike, beige moulded plastic. 12. Spear, beige moulded plastic. 13. Axe, beige moulded plastic. 14. Sword, beige moulded plastic. 15. Club, beige moulded plastic. 16. Laser gun, beige moulded plastic 17. Cannon support, orange moulded plastic which can be mounted in one of the turrets 18. Cannon, beige moulded plastic 19. Ladder; beige moulded plastic. 20. Flag pole, beige moulded plastic with a floor clip at one end and at the top a knob 21. Flag, paper printed in colours. This is damaged and worn. |
| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions | '© MATTEL INC 1981 USA 3991-2139' |
| Credit line | Given by Jermaine Dacas |
| Object history | Bought by the donor between 1983 and 1987. Mr Dacas was born 17/10/73 and saved his pocket money to buy the toys. He played with them and created his own dramas for the characters. |
| Production | References: Mattel 1985 Catalogue: 'Masters of the Universe is a boy's fantasy toy group consisting of men, equipment and vehicles based on a main character - HE-MAN. It is said to represent the struggle between good and evil.' |
| Subject depicted | |
| Other number | 3991 - catalogue number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.34:1 to 22-1994 |
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| Record created | April 17, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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