Painted Wooden Spinning Tops

Painted wooden tops are spread across an old workshop table, each one marked by a different set of rings. Red, blue, green and yellow paint has worn through in places, exposing the pale wood beneath. A few tops sit upright on their points, while others rest on their sides beside a wooden crate.

The stripes make useful starting groups, but the repeated colors will test your eye later. Look for the shape of each top's stem, the direction of its grain and the little chips along the painted bands. The table has long boards and soft window shadows running behind the toys. Save the shavings, crate corners and darker workshop shelves for the end, when the brighter pieces are already under control.