When it comes to toy design, a small, land-locked country has punched above its weight for the past century. ‘Czech designers have always been well-aware of the importance of the toy, as they’re the first objects people take into their hands while developing their human senses,’ says Tereza Bruthansová, curator of a new exhibition on the subject, set to open during London Design Festival.
The earlier toy makers of Czechoslovakia drew on the country’s folklore, hand-making wooden delights for the Artel Cooperative, which was founded in Prague in 1908. This, combined with the tradition of Czech puppetry and animation, practised by the likes of Jiri Trnka, Jan Svankmajer and Aurel Klimt , has helped seal the country’s position as king of the toymakers.
Then along came plastic, and the quirky products manufactured by the company Fatra. One of its most significant designers was Libuše Niklová. Her 1970s collection of inflatable animal-shaped children’s seats has been reissued by Fatra, and added to by contemporary designers.
‘Labu’, by Kutulu
Many of the latest generation of designers have returned to wood, creating some pieces that are good-looking enough to double as objets d’arts. RePello’s J™ model balance bike by Jiří Marján and Pavol Mikuláš is one such example.
These and more are on show at London’s Czech Centre from 15 September 2018. ‘Mini Wonders – Czech Toys Past and Present’ is a touring exhibition. Fittingly, many of the exhibits are displayed in Kazeto’s vintage cardboard suitcases, which will be familiar to anyone who grew up in Czechoslovakia.
But it is not only Czech-based designers who have had an impact on toy design. Tom Karen arrived in the UK from the city of Brno as a WWII émigré in his teens. He went on to create two of the 1970’s best-sellers: the Marble Run and the Raleigh Chopper bicycle.
As Bruthansová says: ‘There seems to be an active inner child in the Czech identity.’
‘Amaris’, by Kutulu
Elephant, by Ladislav Sutnar
‘Pi-Pi’, by Kutulu
INFORMATION
’Mini Wonders – Czech Toys Past and Present’ is on view from 15 September – 14 October. For more information, visit the London Czech Centre website
ADDRESS
30 Kensington Palace Gardens
London
W8 4QY
-
Ten low-pro sneakers that capture footwear’s new streamlined moodSuper-flat soles, narrowed silhouettes: the low-profile sneaker is this season’s defining footwear style. Here, the Wallpaper* style team selects its favourites
-
Living light: can the Light Phone III help you reclaim precious time without losing out on life?Light hope their new Phone III contains just the right amount of tech to live a life free from digital distraction. We put their minimal handset to the test
-
Mika Cars wants to build the Mino, a sporty, ultra-compact electric two-seater for the open roadAn evolution of Mika’s Meon electric beach buggy, the little Mino is an ultra-light EV with big-car aspirations
-
‘R for Repair’ at London Design Festival displays broken objects, re-formedIn the second half of a two-part exhibition and as part of London Design Festival 2022, ‘R for Repair’ at the V&A displays broken objects, re-formed
-
‘Finding quality through the act of making’: Pearson Lloyd celebrates 25 years of designPearson Lloyd’s show ‘Change Making’ reflects on past designs from its archives, showcasing the influences on and evolution of the studio, from furniture design to the NHS
-
Tom Dixon marks his studio's 20 years with a show of design experimentsMushroom, cork, steel coral and more: Tom Dixon showcases an overview of his design experiments as he celebrates his practice's 20 years
-
Porro unveils new London showroom at Coal OfficeLondon Design Festival 2022: industrial architecture meets pure geometries in the new Porro showroom, taking over a space within Tom Dixon’s Coal Office to showcase the brand’s systems and furniture
-
Vitra unveils new London home in the Tramshed, ShoreditchLondon Design Festival 2022: after a year-long renovation, Vitra opens the door to its new showroom in the heart of Shoreditch
-
Mudlarking beside the River Thames inspires The New Craftsmen’s makersLondon Design Festival 2022: The New Craftsmen’s new collection, ‘Claylarks’, features work from a group of creatives inspired by a River Thames mudlarking expedition
-
One tree, ten designers: SCP presents The One Tree Project at London Design FestivalLondon Design Festival 2022: SCP enlisted ten British designers to create furniture and objects from a felled ash tree from founder Sheridan Coakley's Hampshire garden
-
London Design Medals 2022London Design Medals 2022 are awarded to costume designer Sandy Powell, architect Indy Johar, researcher Joycelyn Longdon and photographer Sir Don McCullin
