Vedel and Bojesen classics...

I've recently been lucky enough to acquire a couple of long admired mid-century toy design classics... The cute pot-bellied monkey was designed in 1951 by Kay Bojesen and is made out of limba and teak wood.

The two cheeky birds were originally designed by architect Kristian Vedel in 1959 and each one is still handmade by a wood turner in a small village in Denmark. I love that their heads are unconnected to their bodies so you can make them look up down, scared, inquisitive etc. and you can even turn their bodies upside down to make 'male' or 'female' versions!

Classic toys are always great inspiration for new characters and illustrations so here you go... be inspired...