Arc of Seven

• Seven arches plus a solid half-moon centre, cut from one block of FSC beech
• Water-based, saliva-proof paint tested to EN 71-3
• Rounded edges and 7 cm deep pieces that small hands can grip
• Grows with the child: stacking at 1, building at 3, small-world play at 5

The Arc of Seven is cut from a single block of FSC-certified beech, so the eight pieces nest back together exactly like they came out of the tree. Seven arches in red, orange, yellow, green, teal, blue and indigo sit around a solid violet half-moon. Each piece is 7 cm deep, so it stands on its own and is easy for a one-year-old to pick up with the whole hand.

How it is played with at each age

Around 12 months children take the arches out, put them back in and rock them on the floor. That is the start of size order and cause and effect. From two the arches become tunnels for cars, a bridge for animals and a cradle for a doll. From four they turn up in towers, fences and roads, and you’ll start hearing counting and colour names. Older children use the pieces as scenery for small-world play long after they’ve stopped stacking them.

Why beech and not pine

Beech is a dense hardwood. It doesn’t dent when it’s thrown and doesn’t splinter, and it weighs enough that a tower doesn’t fall over every time someone breathes on it. Pine stackers are lighter and cheaper, but they mark easily and the soft edges wear down within a year.

Paint and finish

The colours are a water-based paint tested to EN 71-3 (migration of certain elements) and are safe for a child who still puts everything in their mouth. The unpainted inner faces are finished with beeswax. Expect the colours to soften a little with years of play: that is the paint wearing, not flaking.

It comes in plastic-free packaging and as a set of eight pieces. The largest arch is 30 cm wide.

What’s in the box

• 7 nesting arches
• 1 violet half-moon centre
• Play-ideas card

Size, materials and care

Size: 30 × 7 × 15 cm (W × D × H), 1.1 kg. Materials: FSC beech wood, water-based paint, beeswax finish. Recommended age: 12 months and up.

Wipe with a damp cloth and let it air dry. Never soak it or put it in the dishwasher. Rub in a little beeswax once a year if the wood starts to look dry.

Safety

Tested to EN 71-1, EN 71-2, EN 71-3 and CE marked.

Questions about Arc of Seven

From what age is a rainbow stacker suitable?

From about 12 months, once a child can sit steadily and grip with the whole hand. The Arc of Seven has no small parts: the smallest piece, the violet half-moon, is 7 cm wide and far too large to swallow.

Is the paint safe if my baby chews it?

Yes. The paint is water-based and tested to EN 71-3, the European standard for the migration of heavy metals and other elements from toy materials. The colours may soften with years of handling, but they do not flake.

What is the difference between Rainbow and Earth tones?

Same wood, same shape, two palettes. Rainbow uses seven saturated colours for colour naming and sorting. Earth tones uses ochre, terracotta, sage and sand for a calmer look in a living room.