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Spinning Top - Wooden Top, Turkey, 1989
Reg. No: SH 990236
- Summary:
- Alternative Name(s): Peg Top
Used: circa 1989
Bought in Turkey, and donated by Nebi and Fadime Yilmaz, 1989.
The Australian Children's Folklore Collection is unique in Australia, documenting contemporary children's folklore across Australia and in other countries reaching back to the 1870s. The Collection has a strong component of research material relating to Victoria.
Top-spinning is an ancient activity. Tops dated at 1200-1400BC were excavated in Egypt, and they are often mentioned in classical literature. They are found throughout the world and used by adults and children, in rituals as well as for games of skill. There are many different kinds of tops, and the way they are used depends on their size and shape. This top comes from Turkey, where it is called 'Topac'. It is a peg top, spun by winding string around the body, holding one end of the string and throwing the top downwards. The string is jerked to set the top spinning. - Description:
- Natural wood top, unpainted and unlacquered, decorated with rings in the form of shallow grooves coloured brown. There are three double rings around the body and two double rings on the rounded top surface. There is also a hole in the centre of the top surface, and a curved-headed metal tack in the point. Acknowledgement: Australian Children's Folklore Collection, Museum Victoria.
- Acquisition Information:
- Cultural Gifts Donation from Dr June Factor, 1999
- Acknowledgement:
- Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
| Discipline: | History |
| Dimensions: | 6.00 cm (Height), 4.50 cm (Width), 4.50 cm (Length) |
More information
| Tagged with: | children s folklore, children s play, crafts, toys, turkish culture, woodworking |
| Themes this item is part of: | Muslim Collections at Museum Victoria, Australian Children's Folklore Collection, Childhood & Youth Collection, Domestic & Community Life Collection, Leisure Collection |
| Primary Classification: | GAMES & TOYS |
| Secondary Classification: | Action Games |
| Tertiary Classification: | spinning |
| Place & Date Made: | Turkey, 1989 |
| References: | Gould, D.W.; The Top, Universal Toy, Enduring Pastime; Bailey Bros & Swinfen Ltd., Folkestone, England. 1975 |
Themes
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