Chang Yang Fa (Chinese: 张延发; pinyin: Zhāng YánFā; born 1948)[1] is a Singaporean electrical engineer, entrepreneur, and prominent collector of vintage toys.[2] He is the founder of the MINT Museum of Toys (Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys) in Singapore, the world's first purpose-built museum for toys.[3][4] Over more than three decades, Chang has assembled a collection of over 50,000 items from more than 55 countries, dating from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century.[5][6][7]
Chang was born in Indonesia and moved to Singapore at a young age.[8] He was educated at St Andrew's School, Singapore and was a member of Singapore's inaugural cohort of National Service (NS) in 1967.[8][9][10] He later pursued further studies in the United Kingdom.[8]
Before establishing his museum, Chang worked as an electrical engineering consultant.[3][5]
Chang has stated that his interest in collecting began in childhood, and he later developed this interest into a sustained effort to acquire vintage toys from diverse geographical and historical contexts.[6][11] While many collectors focus on a specific brand or era, Chang's collection is noted for its breadth, covering global history, pop culture, and social shifts.[12] He imagined a dedicated space centered on vintage toys and childhood memorabilia for the public to engage with.[13]
The MINT Museum of Toys was established following a prolonged search for a suitable site, which reportedly took approximately ten years.[8] Chang and his wife presented their proposal for the museum during a Meet-the-People Session to George Yeo, then Minister for Foreign Affairs, who subsequently supported the project, including facilitating grant applications and planning approvals.[14]
The museum's name, "MINT," is a backronym for "Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys."[6] Chang originally considered the name "Mint In Box" (MIB), but altered it to avoid trademark confusion with the Men in Black film franchise.[3]
Collecting Philosophy and Curation
Chang has described his collection as a form of “social record” and an “anthropological phenomenon,” arguing that toys can serve as material evidence of the cultural, technological, and political contexts in which they were produced. His approach differs from collectors who focus on a single brand or period, instead emphasizing breadth across regions and historical periods.[14] He argues that toys provide primary evidence of the political, technological, and cultural environments of their countries of origin.[15][16]
Condition, "MINT" status and craftsmanship
Chang prioritizes the acquisition of toys in "mint condition", a collector's term for items in their original state.[17] The museum's name references this condition standard.[3][17]
He has expressed a preference for tin-plate toys, which he considers reflective of the craftsmanship of earlier manufacturing practices.[8]
Preservation anddisplay
Preservation considerations have influenced the museum's design. The building incorporates windowless gallery spaces to reduce exposure to ultraviolet light, which can damage pigments and materials in vintage objects.[18][19][17]
At any one time, only about 10 percent of Chang's collection—roughly 8,000 items—is exhibited to the public, while the majority remains in storage and is rotated into displays periodically.[18][20]
The museum's galleries are organized thematically rather than geographically, placing objects from different countries in proximity to highlight similarities in design and cultural function.[21] The exhibits are organized into themes such as Outer Space (featuring futuristic toys from past eras), Characters (inspired by cartoons and comics), Childhood Favorites (including teddy bears, dolls from around the world, and puppets like Punch and Judy), and Collectables (presenting vintage toys as artifacts).[22][23]
Notable artifacts
The collection includes several rare and historically significant items, including:
File:Steiff Teddy Bear.jpgSteiff teddy bear without the signature “button-in-ear” tag from between 1904 and 1905A 1903 Steiff teddy bear—an early example from the renowned German maker—produced before the introduction of its signature “button-in-ear” tag in 1904.[23]
A Japanese “Batman Robot” toy from the 1960s, described as one of a limited number of surviving complete examples.[5][17]
A lithographed tin Popeye and Olive Oyl Tank from the 1950s, considered one of the most valuable pieces in the collection; only five such pieces are known to exist worldwide.[25]
