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What were those wire and plastic ball wave desk ornaments called?

22 replies

Myneighbourisanosyoldgit · 25/03/2026 17:22

Does anyone remember those ornaments that that small plastic balls on the end of thin wire which was set into a base and they fanned out? Slight movement and they would move like a wave and sometimes click together. I had some in orange and lime green, a bit trippy to watch but I liked them.
Can't think what they are called, thought of them today and now the not knowing is getting to me.😀
Someone please put me out of my misery?😄

OP posts:
kizzywizz · 25/03/2026 17:23

Newtons Cradle I think.

Haggisfish3 · 25/03/2026 17:23

Newtons cradle?

MyCatsSlave · 25/03/2026 17:23

Do you mean a Newtons cradle, they were teapot popular when I was a teenager on the late 80s

Blarn · 25/03/2026 17:26

I know what you mean! They weren't newton's cradles. You could buy them in the Gadget Shop.

Myneighbourisanosyoldgit · 25/03/2026 17:27

Thanks for the ideas but no luck so far.
Imagine a small circular with wires set into it and little balls on the ends. The weight pulls the wires and the balls droop outwards like wilting flowers.
Can't post a picture as not sure what I'm looking for name wise.🤔

OP posts:
Cherubimbum · 25/03/2026 18:22

something like this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133743393202

Myneighbourisanosyoldgit · 25/03/2026 18:46

Cherubimbum · 25/03/2026 18:22

Edited

You are a legend, that's the one👏
Thanks everyone for your help, I loved mine so now off to buy another. Silly stuff makes me happy 😄

OP posts:
NoSuchThing · 25/03/2026 19:47

Came to say a flexible mandala, but I see someone else has already found the answer for you!

AllTheChaos · 29/03/2026 21:36

I loved the Gadget Shop! Was genuinely sad when it died, I still have some of the daft things I got there!

CountryMouse22 · 30/03/2026 10:21

It's a heck of a price!

PsychedlicSally · 30/03/2026 10:29

I used to own a vintage shop, have sold a lot of these in the past. I've always known them as "bobble trees", you should be able to get one much cheaper than that. The blue/green is my favourite colourway.

I've been trying to think of a way to make a giant outdoor one for my garden.

viques · 30/03/2026 19:47

Myneighbourisanosyoldgit · 25/03/2026 18:46

You are a legend, that's the one👏
Thanks everyone for your help, I loved mine so now off to buy another. Silly stuff makes me happy 😄

It’s £175.00! Nostalgia don’t come cheap.

Kittylickingplate · 31/03/2026 04:27

I remember Basil Brush. 'Shiny ball on bits of string, Shiny ball on bits of string, shiny balls, bang bang, shiny balls'

Bluegreenbird · 31/03/2026 05:43

Try Kinetic wire ball sculpture or Kinetic wire tree as search terms. There are a few on Etsy and cheaper than the first one.

blueirises · 31/03/2026 06:00

Magic ball trees! I had a couple from charity shops in the 90s, presumably from the 60s or 70s. Watch out if a ball comes off the end of a wire though, it could have your eye out.

justasking111 · 31/03/2026 09:11

Our cat destroyed mine 😭

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 31/03/2026 22:42

MyCatsSlave · 25/03/2026 17:23

Do you mean a Newtons cradle, they were teapot popular when I was a teenager on the late 80s

I presume 'teapot popular' was an auto-incorrect; but I really want it to become an actual commonly-used phrase now!!

imbolic · 31/03/2026 23:16

Cherubimbum · 25/03/2026 18:22

Edited

I have one of those in my spare bedroom that was my Christmas gift from my best friend's Mum in the 1960s. Friend had one too, but she threw hers away a few years ago, it had lost some balls.

MyCatsSlave · 01/04/2026 10:38

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 31/03/2026 22:42

I presume 'teapot popular' was an auto-incorrect; but I really want it to become an actual commonly-used phrase now!!

It was autocorrect but I too think teapot popular should be a phrase now 😂

Breadcat24 · 01/04/2026 16:50

Cheaper but missing stand
Shove it in a candlestick
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/147196521610?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338749401&toolid=20006&_ul=GB&customid=CjwKCAjwhLPOBhBiEiwA8_wJHJ9nThJ0l_PNv8ev5n4xkWI26G7gwPqh8R7EB202e1HJ-gTFGIlyYRoCDMcQAvD_BwE|0AAAAADihhqWRZbLbQDdgQP0vCDJuM1OFp|CkAKCAjw4a3OBhA1EjAAiem-ugyzXhiN_2JL-OuvC3a3-rGC8FrqVZxBIKRVBwbHlM8P3YbPmx1M5kN8BicaAl0w&gclid=CjwKCAjwhLPOBhBiEiwA8_wJHJ9nThJ0l_PNv8ev5n4xkWI26G7gwPqh8R7EB202e1HJ-gTFGIlyYRoCDMcQAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAADihhqWRZbLbQDdgQP0vCDJuM1OFp&wbraid=CkAKCAjw4a3OBhA1EjAAiem-ugyzXhiN_2JL-OuvC3a3-rGC8FrqVZxBIKRVBwbHlM8P3YbPmx1M5kN8BicaAl0w&loc_interest_ms=&loc_physical_ms=9046364&adtype=pla&gad_source=4&gad_campaignid=22857718300&gbraid=0AAAAADihhqWRZbLbQDdgQP0vCDJuM1OFp

Vintage Mid Century Ball Sculpture Laurids Lonborg Style Kinetic Atomic Spares | eBay UK

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage Mid Century Ball Sculpture Laurids Lonborg Style Kinetic Atomic Spares at the best online prices at eBay UK! Free delivery for many products!

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WormHoleInSpace · 01/04/2026 18:23

The power of MN not only remebers what @Myneighbourisanosyoldgit looking for but invents a brilliant new phrase for anything that is really popular .
Gotta love MN 😁

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