Kay Bojesen

Kay Bojesen – the man who brought wooden figures to life

Kay Bojesen (1886–1958), an apprentice to Georg Jensen who was later appointed Royal Court Supplier. In addition to his sense of form and function, Kay Bojesen had a unique ability to create spectacular wooden figures, which came to celebrate the child in all of us, even long after his death. In Kay Bojesen’s fantastic collection you will find, among other things, the classic monkey and other wooden toys, as well as jewelry, cutlery, and silver cups.

Unlike many other famous designers, Kay Bojesen did not see himself as a traditional designer, but rather as a craftsman. Each individual product was meant to be shaped, crafted, and above all serve a function. Kay Bojesen believed, among other things, that table cutlery had a functional purpose as a tool, and that silver should not be something merely looked at, but primarily something useful. Nevertheless, his silver cutlery won the Grand Prix at the World Exhibition in Milan in 1951. A few years later, Kay Bojesen was also appointed Royal Court Supplier “for long and faithful cooperation with the Danish court.” The cutlery has also been used at other ceremonial occasions, including at Danish embassies around the world.

When Kay Bojesen married and had his own children, his interest in wooden toys grew steadily. Childhood memories of his father’s woodworking returned to his life, and he remembered the encouragement to dare to be creative and playful.

It was not until the 1930s that Kay Bojesen began creating a series of wooden toys with animal motifs. His intention was never to create a realistic representation of the subject, but rather to leave something to the imagination so that the figures would better fit into the child’s playful world. The design was meant to be simple, authentic, and inspiring for children to play with.

The classic monkey, for which Kay Bojesen has become most famous, was created in 1951. In connection with an exhibition of children’s furniture, he was asked to design a coat rack. The monkey’s long arms and legs turned out to be perfect for hanging coats, hats, and scarves on. About his work, Kay Bojesen is said to have said:

“Don’t be afraid. It can even have a bit of circus about it.”