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Overview
This spinning top belonged to the Timmings family from Ngaio, Wellington.
The top was spun by winding a string around the centre and then releasing it in a single throwing motion. Throughout history both children and adults have enoyed spinning tops. The earliest examples in New Zealand were played with by Maori tamariki (children) prior to European settlement. Overseas, clay tops have been discovered in many archaeological sites including examples discovered at Troy that date to 3000 B.C., and Egyptian, Greek and Roman tops have been found dating from 2000 B.C. to 27 B.C.
The Timmings children grew up in the 1970s and enjoyed a childhood full of family activities. Along with riding their bikes, climbing trees and playing in the garden, the family also enjoyed picnics and cricket games together. Indoor activities such as cards and board games were a popular past-time. They all also learnt musical instruments, mostly the piano and/or the violin.