If you’ve ever had writers block then a little distraction may be just the thing to get the creative juices flowing. The Spincil is a 2b graphite lead pencil made from natural beechwood with a spinning top at the end, which is a novel change from an eraser I suppose! It’s been created by Ortiedesign a French design studio who say they like to embellish everyday life by using everyday materials & healthy paints. I was pleased to read that they care about the environment too so use wood from sustainable forests & don’t create unnecessary packaging.
The concept of a spinning top takes me back to the family home & conjures up memories of cold winter evenings lying in front of the fire whiling away the time with a few rounds of battling tops with the family. This game was popular in the late 60’s & 70’s & ours is no longer around but it seems there are still some vintage examples for sale if you too are feeling nostalgic.
There’s nothing new about the idea of amalgamating a spinning top with a pencil, a quick search of the internet will show varying levels of design. From home made paper & cardboard circles (I even found some “how to” instructions) to a Victorian antique in the form of a telescopic pencil. What is different about the Spincil is that its hand made vertically all in one piece, which apparently made it complicated to produce & means it can’t be put on a production line & mass produced.
So, if you feel like taking your pencil for a spin during your next drawing project try a Spincil, the more you sharpen the more the top rotates.
