Mint Museum of Toys

Mint Museum of Toys
250px Level 3 of Mint Museum of Toys
Established	2007
Location	Singapore Southeast Asia
Website	Official Website

The Mint Museum of Toys is the world's first purpose-built museum for toys, which showcases a private collection of vintage toys, including rare and unique one-of-a-kind pieces from around the world. It was officially opened on March 5, 2007 and officiated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr George Yeo. The museum is located at 26 Seah Street, in the Arts & Heritage district of Singapore.

MINT is an acronym for "Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys" and also defines the exhibits in the collection, of which majority are in "mint condition" though they are vintage.

The museum collection includes more than 3,000 pieces of vintage toys and childhood memorabilia from the mid-19th century to mid-20th Century. All the toys displayed in the museum are the lifetime collection of Singaporean, Chang Yang Fa, an alumnus of St Andrew's School.

Exhibits on display include Disneyana toys, Astro Boy, Batman, Bonzo the Dog, Dan Dare, Popeye the Sailor, Pre-war Japanese toys, including a 'Door of Hope' Chinese doll collection dating from the turn of the 20th Century, Teddy Bear Collection as well as Chinese comics and comic covers dating from 1920's, Tintin collectables and many others. The collection is said to originate from over 40 countries worldwide.

Besides exhibiting vintage toys and childhood memorabilia, the museum's collection also includes a large collection of enamel signs and tin boxes which are displayed in the museum's restaurant and wine bar.

Architecture

The collection is housed within an award winning five-storey contemporary building designed by Chan Soo Khian, Principal Architect of SCDA Architects. The building has garnered international awards including The Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design “International Architecture Awards” 2007 and was Runners Up in the Commercial Building Category for the Cityscape Architectural Review Award, held on 4 December 2006, at Cityscape Dubai 2006. The museum was also awarded the 2007 International Architectural Award for Best New Global Design by the Chicago Athenaeum.

The museum was designed to exhibit the toys in an optimum environment while at the same time preserving their fragile condition. The window-less building prevents UV-rays from reaching the exhibits; the shelves are fitted with LED lights; shelvings are designed such that no shadows are cast on the exhibits. The building's signature facade, which is made up of 26 glass panes shaped into a wavelike structure, gives the museum an iconic status in Singapore's urban landscape.

External links

• Mint Museum of Toys Website