Celluloid Chinese tumblers kept at the Palace Museum. [Photo/dpm.org.cn]

Celluloid Chinese tumblers

The Chinese tumbler, a toy that wobbles but quickly rights itself, has been popular in China for centuries. The tumbler was developed from a kind of drinking vessel used during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). Traditional Chinese tumblers are made of natural materials, such as clay and paper, but these Qing tumblers are made of celluloid, showing the characteristics of the time.