Holtztiger “Dalmation Papa” — Holtztiger “Dalmation Papa”

Our appreciation of wooden toys has us obsessed with the animal kingdom of Holtztiger, the German toymaker whose endearing motto “from large forests to small hands” sums up what they are about.

The folkish style of their animals in their naive rendering and bright, translucent water color palette reminds us of what you’d see in a Henry Darger painting. We like how the simple characterization and modest materials are instinctive and beautiful. The toys are made entirely of hand-carved and painted solid wood, with some varieties having the addition of a tail made from simple, sturdy waxed cotton cord.

You can collect from hundreds of styles, representing the conventional to the fantastic, to eventually create an entire world of play. A nod to their German origin, they have an enthusiastic variety of farm animals (I have counted 23 styles of cows alone). We are keen on their fairytale collection which features a mix of characters from Hans Christian Anderson stories, to generic fantasy characters like the “Dwarf with Bread" series).

The “Dalmation Papa” pictured here is a constant breakfast table companion to its owner, and as such has developed a patina from daily contact with a tiny mouth and hands (without worry, as all Holtztiger animals are painted with non-toxic paint and water-based lacquer).

WHERE TO BUY:
Padlilly.com seems to have a very comprehensive selection, but a good assortment is also available at Sweet William in New York.