Great toy design

One of my leisure time enjoyments is to wander somewhat aimlessly around bookstores in hopes that my eyes will glance upon a book that will demand my attention.  Well, that’s exactly what happened last Saturday as I found myself in the art book department looking at a bright orange and blue corrugated slipcover. It was encasing a book entitled Toy Design that was written by someone named Christian van Uffelen.

Toy Design! This demanded a closer look. I walked over and picked it up from the dusty bottom shelf that housed it. It was sealed so I couldn’t open it and there was no price. A trip to the sales clerk proved that it was not in the system (I guess that said something about how popular the book was) but with some effort, we came up with a price and I bought it sight unseen.

I am glad I did. It is a treasure trove of great toy design. Van Uffelen, a Dutch writer, states in his preface that he “chose toys that “…were created by well-known designers with high aesthetic values.”

I was so impressed, that I decided to write a series of postings here on my Playthings blog as well as on my Global Toy News website featuring toys from the book. 

For my first selection I have chosen this beautifully simple wood sphere with internal wind up mechanism by Adam and Harborth. Made of oak or beech, it is called Mozartkugel and plays a song from Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” as you either simply hold it in your hand, roll it across the floor or toss it back in forth (attempting not to knock out the teeth of the person with whom you are playing catch.)

In an age of Internet play that does not provide the tactile experience of touch (at least not yet) this toy provides a wonderful visual, kinesthetic and auditory experience.

What do you think? What toys do you think represent great design?