Museum of Toys

This small privately owned museum in Xagħra was originally set up by Susan Lowe in Devon, England in the 1970's. It started with one doll and today it boasts toys from all around the World. The name Pomzkizillious comes from Edward Lear who made up this word to describe the coastal scenery of Gozo while visiting the Island in 1866. (Edward Lear is a world famous illustrator of natural history books, writer & illustrator of children's verse and a landscape painter who visited Malta on many occasions).

The earliest objects on display are a late 18th century Maltese Doll with carved wooden head and some Italian Presepio and figurines dating from 1790's. Among other attractions there is a 1930's Noah's Ark, a "Hornby" Train Set and Edwin's "Dinky" vehicles, a pressed paper "Hunting Scene" & "Zoo" which have survived over 100 years and a set of soldiers made in the 1970's but dressed in the uniform of the Swedish Army in 1700's. A scarce set of unmarked Lead Cricketers and other lead toys including Zoo & Farm Animals, Cowboys & Indians, Aeroplanes, Ships & Soldiers and an Ambulance Set about 1890's are also on display. One can also see some optical toys, 1790's dolls, soft toys made by Steiff, Lenci and Kathe Kruse, and a few clockwork tin toys from the 1920/30's (Schuco & Lehmann).