Mestizo Zumbador - Spinning toy
Name/Title
Mestizo Zumbador - Spinning toyEntry/Object ID
2025.01.009Description
This handmade toy consists of a central twisted metal rod supporting two intersecting oval-shaped metal bands, forming a spherical, cage-like structure. A narrow rectangular paddle, painted in three colored segments (red, silver, and yellow), is affixed to the top of the rod. The spherical bands are also partially painted in bright colors, including blue and magenta, remnants of which are visible despite wear. The object appears to be a traditional zumbador or spinning toy, designed to be spun rapidly by twirling the handle or string at the bottom. The piece is carefully constructed to balance and rotate smoothly, using simple yet clever mechanics based on symmetry and centrifugal motion.Made/Created
Date made
circa 1971Ethnography
Cultural Region
Location
Guanajuato, Mexico, Celaya, GuanajuatoCulture/Tribe
Mestizo