Spinning tops are hand-turned wooden objects with a rounded top and a sharp point, designed to spin upright on their tip. A cord is wound tightly around the top's body, then thrown with a sharp release that unwinds the cord and gives the top its spin. Traditional tops are turned from dense hardwoods for weight and durability — the heavier the top, the longer and more stable the spin.
Many folk cultures have their own top designs, spinning techniques, and competitive games: last-top-spinning contests, top-fighting where tops are set against each other, and tricks where the top is caught in the hand or on a plank while still spinning. Making a good spinning top requires precise turning and centring — any imbalance shortens the spin dramatically.
Explore this craft by country
Each country page describes how this tradition is practised there — its own names, materials, workshops and living makers.