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Cat in the form of wooden balls
Unknown1930/1939
Nordiska Museet
Stockholm, Sweden
Toy cat in the form of three balls, turned by lathe.
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Details
- Title: Cat in the form of wooden balls
- Creator: Unknown
- Date Created: 1930/1939
- Location Created: Öja, Gemla
- Subject: Cat, Toy
- Physical Dimensions: w14 x h12 cm
- More Information: The red cat consists of round wooden balls joined together and is easy for a small child's hand to grip. It is highly stylised in both shape and colour as opposed to the more realistically designed toys that were popular in previous times. Animals have always appealed to children and often appear in stories and games. The cat has been valued for thousands of years as a good hunter of rats and mice, but also as an amusing playmate. The cat in the picture comes from Nya leksaksfabriken (New Toy Factory) in Gemla. Demand for Swedish wooden toys grew in the first half of the twentieth century, peaking in mid-century. Efforts were made to create stable, durable toys that could sustain heavy use and did not break so easily. The design was based on ideas about children's psychological development and how the brain is stimulated by bright colours and simple geometric forms. Gemla toy factory was started in the 1860s and around the turn of the century was producing rocking horses, games, toy farms, children's and dolls' furniture at a rapid pace. It then changed both business focus and ownership, but when the former employees established their own business in Gemla, Nya leksaksfabriken, production could continue. There was a long tradition of wooden carving in the forest-rich region of Småland. During the dark time of the year, when people could not stay outdoors very long, they sat carving to gain extra income in addition to their forestry and agricultural work. They learned early on to work wood for household items and toys. Nya leksaksfabriken in Gemla, Småland, 1930s
- Type: Toy
- Rights: Photo: © Nordiska museet
- External Link: http://www.digitaltmuseum.se/things/katt/S-NM/NM.0291674
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