Vitra Wooden Dolls
Vitra’s Wooden Dolls are uniquely crafted, and carefully hand-painted, perfect for adding character to any home.
First designed by Alexander Girard in 1952, the Wooden Dolls are a large collection of wooden figures representing human and animal characters.
The man who ‘warmed up’ modernism
Born in 1907 in New York City, Alexander Girard was one of the leading figures in design in post-war America, alongside his close friends George Nelson and Charles & Ray Eames. He made a name for himself in the fields of furniture, exhibition, interior and graphic design after studying architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London in 1929.
Girard’s primary focus was textile design and he created numerous fabrics for the Herman Miller Company. Favouring patterns with abstract, geometric forms in a range of colour compositions, his bold designs have a sense of timelessness, with many of his fabrics still being produced and used by Vitra today.
Some of his most well-known design pieces include the Girard Bird, Love Heart Print Pillow and the Geometric Wall Hanging. His beloved Wooden Dolls are now considered collectable items.
Inspired by folk art
Folk art can be described as a form of art that is of the people, for the people and by the people. It is also considered an ancient global tradition that hosts the preservation of cultural traditions through artwork.
Spending most of his upbringing in Florence, Italy, Girard received many toys that were to be considered folk art pieces. This was the beginning of his love for the art which he continued to collect throughout his life, searching out folk-art objects and textiles from extensive travels in South America, Asia, and Europe. These pieces provided the designer with a rich source of inspiration and ideas.
Girard originally created the Wooden Dolls as decorative objects for his own Santa Fe home in 1952. You’re probably thinking, “how did Vitra manage to reprise the wooden doll collection from Girard’s estate?”
After his death in 1993, his archive was donated to the Vitra Design Museum and remains in their holdings today. Vitra are licensed to manufacture the dolls as re-editions which are precisely replicated in every detail.
Crafted by hand
From the Wooden Doll No.1 to the Wooden Cat, every doll is carved from solid pinewood, with 28 different designs from the collection available. Each doll is carefully hand painted; every brushstroke is unique, making the dolls the same in appearance but individual in craft. Every wooden figure is truly one of a kind.
The dolls range from human-looking to animal-like in their design, and there is even a little devil featured within the collection. Based on Girard’s original designs and replicated down to the last detail, the dolls are sure to bring a sense of joy and individuality to your home.
For an extra special touch, each doll is packaged in a high-quality wooden box, complete with a brochure inside. Whether you’re looking to add a pop of colour to your home or searching for a unique gift idea for that special someone, we couldn’t recommend these dolls enough.
Super Large Edition
Continuing the legacy of the iconic sculpture, Vitra has created the Super Large edition of the original Alexander Girard Wooden Dolls. Standing at almost 80cm, both characters command the attention of any room with their unique and bold designs. Individually numbered, each piece is a highly collectable edition and available only on a limited run of 1000 per model.
Shop the full Vitra Wooden Doll collection today.
Got something to say? Let us know on Instagram or Twitter @nest_co_uk. Got something to ask? Get in touch with our friendly team today by emailing info@nest.co.uk, calling 0114 243 3000 or messaging us on Live Chat.
