Toy cannon used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique'
Metal model of a dark green cannon mounted on a green vehicle, with long barrel, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World technique', 1920-1970
Selection of figures taken from the Lowenfeld's 'World Technique' therapy collection as displayed in galvanised iron tray filled with sand for ‘First Time Out’ exhibition (Science Museum & touring). The scene consists of figures of people, animals, plants machinery and other objects. These are as following: people – two knights, four soldiers (3 with bearskins, 1 with gun), six Native Americans (4 standing, 1 seated & 1 with horse), three cowboys (1 with lasso, 2 with guns), man & woman tied to post, one policeman, one milkmaid, one running footballer, one shepherd and one man digging with a shovel; Animals – four crocodiles/alligators (2 large, 2 small), two small dinosaurs, three elephants (2 large, 1 small), one tiger, four lions (2 male, 2 female), one giraffe, one rhinoceros, one monkey (sitting), three horses (pair, white one), one reindeer, one bull and one swan; Plants – eight trees (4 large, 2 moss, 2 conical & 1 Christmas), three clumps of reeds and one bush; Machinery – one wagon, two artillery guns, one tank, one aeroplane, two motorbikes; Objects – seven sections of fencing (4 long, 1 short, 2 gated), one bridge, one totem pole and dolls house chair.
What do toys have to do with trauma? In the years before the Second World War, Margaret Lowenfeld, a child psychiatrist in London, was looking for ways to help children express fears, anger, and family problems that they couldn’t say in words. At her clinic, she began experimenting with the use of small toys in a sand-box and gradually developed an approach she called ‘the World Technique’. This involved a large rectangular tray, sand and water for building a landscape, pieces of plasticine, and an extensive ‘library’ of miniature figures kept in dozens of drawers. Lowenfeld simply asked children to create a world, and observed what happened.
Her idea had parallels to Sigmund Freud’s theories of hysteria – where repressing traumatic memories could lead to psychological and physical symptoms. But Lowenfeld never regarded herself as a psychoanalyst. She always said her chief influences were the children she worked with and the novelist H.G. Wells. She attributed the idea behind the World Technique to a small book, published in 1911, in which Wells described how he had encouraged his two sons to construct elaborate ‘floor games’ out of miniature figures, such as toy soldiers and building blocks.
Other therapists carried on Lowenfeld’s methods in various ways. In the 1950s and 1960s, one psychoanalyst adapted the World Technique in order to encourage children and adults to develop their ‘inner selves’ in a safe, non-judgmental space. This approach became very popular among American psychotherapists under the name ‘Sandplay’. Later, in the 1960s, psychologists in Sweden standardised the World Technique into the ‘Erica Method’, which uses a set of 360 toys in various categories. The Erica Method has recently been used to study post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Iranian refugee children in Sweden.
Metal model of a dark green cannon mounted on a green vehicle, with long barrel, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a grey motorbike, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a brown motorbike, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a tank with wooden wheels, with a short gun barrel, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a cowboy wearing a blue hat, a red shirt and grey trousers with one black stripe, carrying a lasso, made by Britains Ltd, Swoppet registered, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1907-1970
Metal model of a cannon on two large black wheels, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a tree with rounded, green leaves and a brown trunk, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a man wearing a Native American headress, with blue and red clothes, sitting down, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Plastic model of an aeroplane, missing propellor, made by Palitoy, made in England, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1909-1970
Metal model of a black bull, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a man wearing a Native American headress, metallic surface, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a footballer, wearing a red shirt, white shorts, white socks, black boots, posed as if running, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of fir tree, with long green leaves, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a tree with dark green leaves and a dark brown trunk, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a sitting monkey, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Selection of figures taken from the Lowenfeld's 'World Technique' therapy collection as displayed in galvanised iron tray filled with sand for ‘First Time Out’ exhibition (Science Museum & touring). The scene consists of figures of people, animals, plants machinery and other objects. These are as following: people – two knights, four soldiers (3 with bearskins, 1 with gun), six Native Americans ...
Metal model of a knight in armour, carrying a shield in one hand a a sword in the other, 'Harvey' series, made by LoneStar, Die Cast Machine Tools Ltd, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1939-1970
Metal model of a man wearing a Native American headress, and blue trousers with a yellow stripe, holding a yellow shield, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a cowboy wearing a brown stetson, a blue shirt and brown trousers, holding guns in both hands, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a Highland soldier, wearing a bearskin, red tunic, tartan kilt, with a red drum, unknown maker, made in England, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a soldier wearing khaki and holding a bazooka, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a policeman, wearing a blue helmet, a blue uniform and white gloves with one arm outstretched, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a tree with green leaves and a dark brown trunk, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a tree with a bush, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of totem pole with three figures on a green base, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a man, wearing a blue shirt, red scarf, brown trousers and blonde woman wearing a red dress, tied to a post, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a man wearing a white helmet, white shirt, braces and brown trousers, digging with a shovel, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a man wearing a Native American headress, a white top and trousers with red trim, missing one arm, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a soldier in bearskin, red tunic, blue trousers and carrying a rifle, unknown maker, made in Great Britain, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a cowboy, wearing a brown stetson, a yellow scarf, a blue shirt, brown trousers, carrying a hand gun, one hand missing, unknown maker, made in England, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a man wearing a metal helmet, brown coat and trousers, carrying a brown object in his hand, one articulated arm, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a milkmaid, wearing a yellow headscarf, blue shirt, red skirt and carrying a bucket of milk, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a man wearing yellow trousers and carrying a stick, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a soldier in bearskin, red tunic, blue trousers, with sword by his side, with flag pole missing from hand, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Wooden and fabric model of a doll's house chair, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Wooden model of fencing, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Wooden model of fencing, missing gate, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Wooden model of fencing, with wooden gate, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Wooden model of fencing, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Wooden model of fencing, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Wooden model of fencing, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Wooden model of fencing, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a lioness, with red eyes sitting, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of an alligator, made by Britians Ltd, made in Englad, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a clump of reeds, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a clump of reeds, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a clump of reeds, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Thin metal model of a green bush with painted flowers, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a white wagon, on four wheels, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Wooden model of a bridge, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Plastic model of a white horse, posed as if galloping, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a reptilian creature with a long tail and missing left foot, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a green reptilian creature with a long tail, missing a right foot, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of an alligator, with pink mouth and one black eye, made by John Hill & Comapny, made in England, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of an alligator with white painted eyes and teeth, unknown maker, made in England, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Wooden model of a conifer, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Wooden model of a conifer, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a giraffe, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a light grey elephant with trunk raised, unknown maker, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Plastic model of a swan with an orange beak, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of an alligator with yellow painted eyes and teeth, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a man wearing a blue shirt, a Native American headdress, dark green trousers, riding a black horse, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a pair of brown horses, joined together as if pulling a cart, with details of reins impressed into metal, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a grey elephant with trunk on the floor, with small hole at the top of the trunk, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a grey elephant with trunk raised, textured skin, unknown maker, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a brown rhinoceros, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a tiger, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a lion, standing, with a dark brown mane, unknown maker, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a lion, standing, with a dark brown mane, with some paint missing, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a reindeer, missing one leg and antlers, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a lioness, sitting, unknown maker, made in England, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Model of a mossy tree, with circular wooden base, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Model of a mossy tree, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970