Painted wooden torsion toy of a female acrobat made in Scotland by Gurr & Jamieson in 1988

A flat wooden figure of a plump female acrobat, painted pink with red and white spotted tutu with a skirt of gathered red netting, red painted ballet shoes, and red and white spotted cap with a red feather. The limbs are jointed with metal bolts running through the body. A double length of red cord runs through the hands, and at each end, are attached to a length of vertical wooden dowel. The two pieces of dowel are, in turn, slotted into a short length of wood near the base and secured by metal bolts. The ends of the dowel rods rest in two circular holes in a round turned wooden base. When the toy is removed from the base and the ends of the dowel lightly pressed in the palm of the hand, the acrobat turns a somersault around the taut card.

Given by the gurkein Puppets [88/882]

Alan Jamieson and Bernice Gurr were trained in fine art and graphics at Stockport College and in woodcarving/sculpture in Germany. They have been in business together since 1981, later concentrating on making light-hearted toys, particularly involving movement. They are based at Craft Centre in Drumlanrig Castel, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
The acrobat torsion toy is an example of a wooden craft toy. It was bought at the British Toymakers Guild Fair, 1988. Gurr and Jamieson describe themselves as 'Designer Makers'. They are members of the British Toymakers Guild.

Both these modern craft toys, made in 1988 are based on traditional ideas. When the acrobat is removed from the wooden base and the handles of the frame gently squeezed, the figure turns over and over. The two ends of the cord have to be pulled taut to make the two wrestlers appear to punch and kick each other.

This acrobat torsion toy made in the late 1980s by Alan Jamieson and Bernice Gurr. It is a modern craft toy based on a very old idea. When the acrobat is removed from the wooden base and the handles of the frame gently squeezed, the figure turns over and over. The toy was bought at the British Toymakers Guild Fair in 1988.

MISC.148-1988