Small clay figurines of animals are found in children’s graves, and the natural interpretation is that they functioned as children’s toys, not least because they closely resemble modern children’s toys (now often made in plastic!). Animal models are also found as dedications at ancient Greek religious sanctuaries – where they were probably dedicated by adults, rather than children. Some small animal models were also fashioned as rattles: they have pellets inside them that make a noise when the figurines are shaken, further suggesting that they were toys. The importance of animals in children’s lives in ancient Greece is also demonstrated by scenes on pottery – especially on choes (small jugs) – which show children playing with a range of species.

The Shefton tortoise figurine (inventory number 176) is made from pale buff-coloured clay, and some surface deposits suggest it was covered in a decorative slip. The tortoise was produced in Greece in the late Archaic or early Classical period, around 480 BC. The shell and head were made in a mould and the underside would have been added separately, probably by hand. The feet were then attached before firing.

The upper head of the tortoise protrudes from a modelled shell. The tortoise has four triangular feet, and the lower body is roughly modelled.

The Shefton tortoise figurine is complete, though with notable wear to the decorative slip. It is a small figurine, in the way that we would expect a child’s toy to be. It is around 3.2cm high and 6.3cm long, and weighs only 45g. Unfortunately, as with many museum objects collected a long time ago, we do not have any information about where this tortoise was found.

In terms of shining a light on children in antiquity, small clay figurines like the tortoise confirm the existence of objects made primarily as toys for children and infants. They also highlight the importance of classifying and interpreting objects from a perspective that considers non-adult use of objects in the past.