POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Notes

This small naturl wood horse was designed by the well-known Danish designer, Kay Bojesen (1886-1958). Kay Bojesen was born in Copenhagen in 1886, the son of the bookshop owner and publisher, Ernst Bojesen. At first Kay began training to be a grocer but between 1906 and 1910 served an apprenticeship as a silversmith with the famous Danish designer, Georg Jensen. After working in Paris and further training in Germany he returned to Copenhagen and worked as a silversmith for Oscar Dahl in Frederiksbereggade. He took over of the workshop there and with his son established his own company in 1913, moving to Nybrogade 14, Copenhagen. Bojesen worked largely in silver and steel but in 1922 began designing wooden toys. By the late 1920s he had moved away from Jensen's "Skonvirke style" and worked towards developing a modern Danish arts and crafts style called "Den Permanenta" (The Permanent). Toys were made in a more simple style with curves rather than sharp edges. In 1930 Bojesen sold his workshop and became artistic administrator at Bing and Grondahl. In 1932 he opened his own business again, as an independent silversmith with a shop in Copenhagen at Bredgade 47. Although he continued to work in silver it was his wooden toys which eventually brought him international acclaim. Bojesen did not make his own products. They were made by a number of different manufactures in Demark. One of these was Langeskov Legetojsfabrik, near Nyborg, on the Danish island of Fyn. This firm made a wide selection of his toys including cars, trains, horses and soldiers. Some of his toys were also made under licence in Holland and Sweden as well as the in the USA under the name Boysen Toys. Unfortunately a number of Bojesen's toy designs were illegally copied by other companies and he spent much time trying to protect his patents. The Bojesen shop operated until his death in 1958 and after that was continued by his widow, Erna Bojesen, until her death in 1986, and then by his family for a short time. As well as toys, Bojesen's Danish arts and crafts style was also applied to wooden bowls, trays, cutting boards and egg cups. He also designed nursery ware made in melamine and worked in bamboo and cane with the Royal Court basket maker, R. Wengler, designing doll's house furniture. In 1991 the rights to manufacture Bojesen's wooden toy animals and guardsmen and his award-wining Grand Prix cutlery were acquired by Erik Rosendahl of Lundtofte where (in 2009) it is still being made. Bojesen lived long enough to see his designs acknowledged and was made an honorary member of the National Association of Danish Arts and Crafts. He was also recognised by the Danish National Committee of the OEMP (World Organisation for Early Childhood Education) for his educational toys. His classic timber toys are now sought by collectors. Information supplied by Gustav Rithmester "Kay Bojesen Biography" at www.kayb.dk www.rosendhal.com "Some facts about Kay Bojesen" at www.kaybojesendesign.dk "Kay Bojesen Biography" at www.picassomio.com