 |
| Kugel ball (rattle) |
I really love the simplicity and form of the Allbedeut-Greiflinge dexterity toys designed by Hugo Kükelhaus. The concept is roughly translated as 'grasping anything/everything'.
Working as a furniture designer, illustrator, glass artist and sculptor, Kükelhaus was heavily influenced by the theories of Friedrich Fröbel, the German educator responsible for the creation of the 'kindergarten' for early childhood education. Kükelhaus became interested in the play of very young children and began designing toys for infants in the late 1930s.
 |
| Fisch |
He designed his toys to appeal to the senses and to encourage each individual sense to work in coordination, organically. This was achieved by avoiding artificial overstimulation or excess ornamentation, incorporating movement and sound, and creating toys from wood—a natural and warm medium that encourages touch and has an intrinsic and timeless beauty. Kükelhaus's toys aimed to develop the skills and abilities of young children, including the powers of observation.
 |
| range of toys |
His toys are harmonious, well-proportioned, mainly figurative in nature and have an enduring appeal. I truly admire the longevity of these toys which are still available for sale and look as fresh today as they did some 80 years ago.
In fact, the Kugel rattle—pictured at the top of this post—has been in our family for almost 50 years.
No comments:
Post a Comment