Designer Wooden

How it's made: Kay Bojesen's Wooden Monkey

2024-03-31T23:26:00.000+11:00

The Wooden Monkey, designed by Kay Bojesen in 1951, is a beloved classic of Scandinavian design. Discover how it's made by hand.

Antonio Vitali Toy Boat Set

2013-04-09T23:13:00.000+10:00

I finally managed to find and purchase a set of Antonio Vitali toy boats. They fit beautifully in my three year old's hand. He loves them as as he sails them across the floor and I love their design aesthetics.

Ebay Vitali Finds

2012-12-29T23:14:00.000+11:00

Some lucky person purchased a whole collection of Vitali toys at a great price

$75 got them an aeroplane, boats, and a few wheeled vehicles.

I particularly like the boats . I would have liked to be the keen eyed person who spotted them for $22 but they were already sold.

Maybe next time?

Antonio Vitali Community Helpers

2012-09-29T01:44:00.001+10:00

What a beautiful set of Antonio Vitali Playforms.

Recently sold on Ebay for $1225

Vitali at a fraction of usual prices

2012-04-28T22:51:00.000+10:00

A recent ebay auction saw a large number of Vitali vehicles sell for a fraction of usual prices. [two airoplanes for only $20] These well loved toys oozed character.

With strong interest in Japan, Switzerland, Australia, Argentina, Germany and the UK. I suspect the low prices reflect the sellers reluctance to post outside the US.

1962 Vintage Creative Playthings Catalogue, Antonio Vitali

2012-03-10T00:12:00.000+11:00

Creative Playthings Catalogues are full of beautifully designed well made toys. Frank and Theresa Caplan engaged designers, scientists and experts in early childhood development to produce ideal toys. The catalogues are not only nostalgic but include short well written articles about children and lovely images of children at play.
This 1962 catalogue with an antonio vitali family on the cover sold for a touch over $125 on ebay.

Antonio Vitali Creative Playthings People, Animals,Vehicles

2012-03-06T01:55:00.007+11:00

Antonio Vitali for Creative Playthings

Vintage Kay Bojesen Wooden Toys

2012-03-05T12:26:00.006+11:00

1966

Kay Bojesen wooden toys. This beautiful image is from a vintage toy catalogue

Antonio Vitali Bird sells for $405

2011-12-13T02:35:00.002+11:00

Vitali

Wise words from Swiss toy designer Antonio Vitali

2011-09-30T12:32:00.001+10:00

"A toy made by lovingly observant parents, be it naive or unsophisticated, is preferable to mass-produced merchandise. It was created for the specific needs of that child, known by the parents." Antonio Vitali

Antonio Vitali Playforms Toy Transportation Set Creative Playthings

2011-09-30T09:20:00.004+10:00

Currently listed on ebay, this beautiful antonio vitali playforms set comes complete with box. Other Creative playforms Vitali sculptured toy figures illustrate the perimeter of the box.

Other creative playforms Vitali vehicle sets I have seen come with a covered truck and pilot in the aeroplane.

Antonio Vitali Family , Farm Animals

2011-09-17T08:33:00.005+10:00

These beautiful Creative Playthings toys by Antonio Vitali above, sold on ebay for a little over $3000. I am curious to know whether these toys will form part of a personal or private collection or be scattered on the floor for some fortunate child to play with.

Over $2000 was realised for the sale of the Vitali vehicles and animals in the photo below.

Below is a lovely collection of 23 vintage wooden Vitali Figures. They sold for over $2500 on ebay.

Naef Swiss Wooden Dog Puppet

2011-05-30T18:52:00.000+10:00

Quintessentia often have beautifully designed Swiss vintage toys available on their web page. This Naef Swiss Wooden Dog Puppet is currently for sale at $220. The paintwork may not be original but was done by someone with a strong aesthetic sense. I think it looks great.

Vntage Wooden Toy Caterpillar & Swiss Naef Juba

2011-05-04T02:02:00.002+10:00

My kids love playing with this vintage wooden toy caterpillar. When placed in the hand carved wooden cocoon like dish it looks ready for transformation. However, when it emerges from the cocoon it is has not transformed into a butterfly but remains a beautiful caterpillar.
The contrasting light and dark woods remind me of the wooden animals of Danish Kay Bojesen or the Schooline figures from Japan . The caterpillars movement and play potential bring to mind Naef's Juba by Xavier De Clippelier.

Above my beautiful wooden vintage toy. Below Switzerland's Naef Juba. Image © Naef Spiele AG

Naef Spiel, Kurt Naef 1957

2011-04-28T23:41:00.001+10:00

This classic 1957 design by Kurt Naef is still produced by hand in Switzerland.

I love this set that shows off the natural grain. The design allows for open ended play opportunities

Images ©Naef Spiele AG

Schooline Poodle

2011-04-25T23:26:00.001+10:00

Wooden Schooline poodle. Made in Japan.

The swing tag reads - Over the years choice and finely worked woods become treasured possessions. The wood inlays and natural grain of this figure will acquire warmth and quality with handling.

Schooline Corporation, Hollywood, California
Stamped SCHOOLINE © 1958

I'd love some more information. If you have some please add a comment.

Kindergarten play

2011-04-23T17:49:00.000+10:00

I taught at one of Australia's oldest kindergartens. This beautiful old wooden house must have been played with by 100s of children. The patina was provided by lots of little fingers.

The figure in front of the house was made in New Zealand in a no longer running sheltered workshop.

The wooden wombats [right of the figure] were made by craftsman John Elliott in Warburton from scavenged wood. [Unfortunately he is also no longer making toys].

Well designed and crafted toys live beyond the life time of their designers and makers.

Oguru Saburo Jigsaw Puzzle

2011-04-22T23:36:00.000+10:00

This Jigsaw puzzle was found at a school fete, we loved the design.
It appears to be the design work of Japan's Oguru Saburo who has designed for Swiss "play object" maker Naef.
Each piece of the puzzle is lovely to play with. The animals are often taken out and swam or walked across the floor. It is quite a tricky puzzle and there are times when the pieces are not placed back in their frame.
Beautifully designed wooden toys still look great when left scattered by the kids in play.

Kay Bojesen Dog Little Tim, Denmark

2011-04-18T20:21:00.002+10:00

This is Kay Bojesen's "Little Tim". No longer in production. Each turn of his head brings a new expression. I was lucky enough to buy him whilst trawling ebay, listed only as "wood dog". The postage cost to Australia was greater than the sale! A real bargain!!! Judging by auction results he is rare [and valuable]. Tim's friend "Plet"[Spot] sold at lauritz.com for nearly EUR 700. Not too valuable for the kids to play with though. Kay Bojesen would want his dog to be played with.

Schooline Bears

2011-04-16T17:38:00.000+10:00

Here is a family of Schooline Bears. These bears come in a number of sizes just like those of Bojesen. The contrasting wood detail on the pads on these bears feet are beautiful. Made in Japan they are marked SCHOOLINE © 1958. I'd love some more information on who designed for Schooline and Zoo-Line. Do you know?

Kay Bojesen Bear, Denmark

2011-04-16T16:54:00.002+10:00

This Kay Bojesen bear was found for a few dollars at our local op shop. We loved him, googled "Kay Bojesen" and we had to find him some friends. His Danish friends have not been as cheap but hunting for Bojesen bargains has been fun.

Zoo-line Panda Bears

2011-04-16T09:51:00.000+10:00

Does any one have good reference material on zooline and schooline figures?

These cute wooden pandas were made in Japan for Zoo-line. Stamped COPYRIGHT © 1957 ZOO-LINE. I love the inlaid eyes. Japanese and Danish designers were influencing each other in the 50s and 60s. Some of my favourite designs are mid century Japanese and Danish.

Antonio Vitali Family

2011-04-15T17:18:00.000+10:00

I love this family. The way each family member fits into a space left by another is beautiful. Swiss designer Antonio Vitali made these for Creative Playthings.

Wonderful Torben Orskov & Co, Denmark, Dog

2011-03-28T00:13:00.001+11:00

I love this dog. Clearly marked T.O & Co Denmark on his leg. Hans Bolling, Kristian Vedel, Finn Juhl, Arne Jacobsen are some of the designers who have been doing designs for Orskov. But I have no idea who this dog's designer is.

Do you know who designed him?

Kay Bojesen Monkey, Denmark

2011-03-14T23:08:00.003+11:00

A design classic.

A few years ago I purchased this vintage Bojesen monkey for my wife on ebay at a good price but in pieces and without hands. I emailed Rosendahl asking if they could supply me with some new hands. Not only did they have them available, they arranged to have the hands and some spare parts delivered to my door at no cost. From Denmark to Australia. What incredible customer service!