The Museum of Toys

10 Gnien Xible Street

Xaghra-Gozo-Malta.

Telephone: 00356 21562489
e-mail: sueandedwin@googlemail.com

Edward Lear, 1812-1888 was a world famous illustrator of children’s books, writer of Nonsense verse & a jovial, Migratory Landscape Painter, spending most winters away from England (where he was born). He came to Malta many times; in 1866 he lived at 9, Via Torri, Sliema for four months.

On March 16th he came to Gozo for one week. In a letter to Lady Waldergrave, dated 13th April 1866, he wrote “Did I tell you of my visit to Oudesh, vulgarly called Gozo? It was a most pleasant one and with the aid of Giorgio (his man-servant) I drew every bit of it, walking fifteen or twenty miles a day - Its coast scenery may truly be called Pomskizillious and Gromphibberous, being as no other words can describe its magnificence.”

The Toy Collection was originally started in North Devon, Eng. in 1965,by Susan Lowe' she eventually ran the ‘Barum’ Toy Museum in Barnstaple. In 1992 the whole collection came on holiday to Gozo & liked it so much they decided to stay! The Museum has now been open 25 years, in that time we have been fortunate enough to aquire more toys, some as gifts/ donations & loans from visitors & friends.

The Dolls Houses open wide their doors to invite you in. There is a welcome in the kitchen, where a brass range cooks a Tom Thumb roast dinner. Upstairs, the drawing room, still lined with its original flock wallpaper. Across the landing notice the furniture made from ‘wish bones’.
A toy Iron Bedstead which belonged to a Gozitan lady 95 years ago.

The 1860’s house (earliest on display) has remains of its original wallpaper, & candelabra, its furniture which dates back to the 1880’s.
The modern English house of the 1930’s with its original contents, which include a Hoover, meat-safe, card table, gas fire, radiator & even real toilet paper. The furniture was made by the London firm ‘Pit-a-Pat’ which was bombed in the 1940’s.
‘Pixie Villa’ was made for a little girl in North Devon Eng. in 1939. Original furniture includes a mangle, a commode, kitchen range & coal scuttle.

The impressive donation in the year 2000 of model Swedish Soldiers in 1756 made by Jan Ohlsson of Kalmar, Sweden in the 1970’s.

Another lovely donation (2004) of handmade wooden toys produced by ‘Grandpa Joe’ from Poland who now lives (& works 90years old!) in Australia.

Some Italian Precepio Figures made by the Italian artist Fortunato Matania who was born Naples in 1881 & died North Devon, Eng. in 1963. (in a lovely setting made for them by Fr. Edgar Vella of Mgarr, Malta), & also another 'Mdina' setting for the two Dolls dressed as Nuns.

The beautiful Maltese Doll which is dated around the end of the 18th cent. Re-dressed in authentic costume, and is believed to have belonged to a family who lived in Zebbug, Malta. The Maltese Precepio made locally, with some pastori figures from the 1950's.
The large Metal Ship used for turbine engine experiments prior to the First World War. A Toy Yacht, Two horses & two ‘Push along Clowns a lovely donation.

A sea-side carriers van & passengers wait for the 4.15 'Hornby' 1930's train. The Dinky toys were Edwin’s as a boy; all the figures were made by ‘Britains’. The Noah’s Ark, which belonged to twin boys who were sadly both killed in action (1940s).

The Doll’s are all sizes from life to the smallest thimble size. A small ‘Steiff’ Teddy Bear (1908). An unmarked bear & Sue’s own ‘Chad Valley’ bear with other soft toys,
Miss Sille Sandnes of Norway donated the lovely 1930’s dolls dressed as Laplanders, with Reindeer skin boots.these dolls were once a gift to a Prime Minister of Norway's daughter.
A French Acrobat 1890’s

The Market Stall is crammed with drums, ark’s, windmills & mini, mini dolls. On the base the inscription reads ‘Last of the treasures I manufactured in the dear old drawing room, 1832’ Who did? Was it some cottage industry or merely for pleasure? If so the pleasure has outlasted 185 years!

Near by a pair of Pedlar Dolls (1830/40's) vie for business. The man offers a tray of carnival jewellery, ribbons for my lady’s chamber, & medicinal potions to ward off the plague. The woman’s tray is a domestic no-nonsense, stitch in time, store of buttons, needles & a prayer book to bless the work that never ends.
The Illustrated children’s books show the progression of the printing processes from early Woodcuts to Wood- engraving, Lithography, Photo-engraving & Photography.
The ‘moving’ Toy Theatre captures a moment in ‘Snow White’.
The Vivescope, Eng.1895 early precursor of cartoons, film etc, and the Kaleidoscopic Top with extra discs for candlelight viewing.
Various Printing Sets - one with real metal type. Tea & Dinner-set’s made from china and one of wood!
A collection of Costume Doll’s, kindly donated.

Scarce un-marked (Kew) Lead Cricketers, the Toy Fort was Edwin’s much longed for Christmas present in the late 1940’s,

The beautifully made pressed paper ‘Hunting Scene’ & ‘Zoo’ 1890’s from Germany.

Lead characters, Zoo & Farm animals were made by ‘Britains’.
A 1930’s Swiss Dolls pram kindly loaned by Mrs Marianne Meier of Qala.
The Clockwork toys were mainly made in Germany in the 1920/30’

The museum has a small gift shop area with toys,cards, old post cards & books about Malta, Toy Collecting & Edward Lear for sale, including 'the Pomskizillious Recipe Book (which contains a poem about Gozo written by Edward Lear in 1866) & was produced to celebrate the museums tenth year in Gozo.

Some places of interest to visit in Xaghra: Ggantija Temples 3.500-4.000 BC
Calypso's Cave- see Edward Lear's Poem!
The Windmill built in 1725 -now a museum. Nino's Cave & Xerri's Grotto
'Our Lady of Victories' the beautiful church in the main square. 'Ggantija Art Gallery ,Historic replica's, Antiques, & at Christmas Victor's marvellous Precepio.

 

 

 

 

Museum Open: 10:30am to 1:00pm on the following days:
January - CLOSED
Feb / March: Sat Only.
April: Thurs, Fri, Sat.
May to Oct: Mon to Sat.
Nov: Thurs, Fri, Sat.
Dec: Sat Only.

Charges:Adults:Adults €2.80. Pensioners €1.80. Children/Students €1.50.

Reductions for 4 -12 Adults €2.20. Pensioners €1.40 Children/Students €1.20.

Party admissions 12 or more: Adults €1.80. Pensioners€1.20 Children/ students €1.00.


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