Key Words: Toy, Papua New Guinea, Hooshang Philsooph
Description:
A spinning top toy made from coconut and wood. The interior of the coconut (or Opi nut) has been scraped out to create a smooth surface, which has been carved and painted with ornament design etchings. A spindle protrudes through the middle of this inner side. Placing the toy object in one’s hands and pulling back in opposite directions allows the toy to spin on this spindle.
Function:
These spinning tops have been used across Papua New Guinea, but are particularly significant with the Elema, Abelam and Torres Straits communities. Top spinning is a toy or pastime for both children and adults. Two opponents (mostly boys and men) will ‘battle’ with these spinning tops by spinning the tops at each other, with the winning top remaining spinning and standing. These toys were also frequently used as a ceremonial game, where the winner was thought to have the biggest harvest that year. The toys often have designs etched into the inside of the top that are specific certain tribes or communities.
Dimensions: 15cm x 14 cm x 7 xm
Materials: Coconut, wood, likely paint or dye
Production Methods and Techniques: Unknown, but spinning tops generally require wood carving processes.
Condition: Good.
Name of Creator: Unknown
Where the item was made: Likely Papua New Guinea.
Date Made: Unknown
Acquisition: Unknown, but these objects were potentially acquired by Professor Hooshang Philsooph during his ethnographic research in Puang, West Sepik, Papua New Guinea and donated to the University of Edinburgh’s Social Anthropology Teaching Collection by him, where the Social Anthropology Department now has ownership.
Acquisition Date: Unknown, but potentially acquired between 1971-1973 during Professor Hooshang Philsooph’s fieldwork.
Current Location: Chrystal MacMillan Building in storage.
Sources:
Read, C.H. (1888) Stone Spinning Tops from Torres Straits, New Guinea. The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, 17: 84-90. Doi: 10.2307/2841587.
Philsooph, H. (1980) A Study of a West Sepik People, New Guinea, with special reference to their system of beliefs, kinship and marriage, and principles of thought. PhD thesis. University of Edinburgh.
Recommended sites for further research: To view similar objects, check the British Museum collection online, museum number: Oc,+.3435, and the Pitt Rivers museum collection online, database record 1931.86.156.
Name of Cataloguer: Aisling Kelly
Date: 06/03/2025
Accession Number: SA028
