Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Danish, 1886-1958
Silversmith and designer Kay Bojesen became world-famous for creating wooden toys that had a soul and an impish sense of humor. With more than 2000 pieces to his name, he was one of Denmark's most prolific artisans in the 20th century. He is best known for his playful and cheerful monkeys, royal lifeguards and other wooden toys, but his repertoire of products also includes jewelry, cutlery, teapots and silver goblets. Kay Bojesen graduated as a silversmith in 1910 after completing his apprenticeship with silversmith Georg Jensen. As one of the first Danish artisans to do so, he embraced functionalism. He was among the pioneers who organized Den Permanente association – a cooperative of artists that included a shop and exhibition space, which over the decades came to represent the best in Danish and Scandinavian design. The year 1919 became the start of a New Era for Kay Bojesen. His son Otto was born and this life event sparked Kay Bojesen's imagination. In the 1930s, he started to indulge his interest in wood. He created a range of wooden toys that all lived up to his ideal that design should be round, soft and have a good feel to it. His idea was not to create lifelike copies of real animals or to be too sophisticated or focus too much on detail, but instead to create imaginative toys in designs based on a child's world where “lines need to smile”. With this basic philosophy in mind, Kay Bojesen created his beloved wooden toys that appeal to the child within us all. Kay Bojesen retained his childish curiosity till the end and left an important design heritage behind.
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Creator: Kay Bojesen
Vintage Original Articulated Elephant Figurine by Kay Bojesen Denmark c 1950s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Troy, MI
Vintage Kay Bojesen elephant figurine in oak circa 1950s
Two available and priced individually
Articulating legs head and trunk
Signed to undersid...
Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Oak
Kay Bojesen Early Handmade Wooden Oak Elephant Children's Toy, 1950s, Denmark
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Odense, DK
Rare Kay Bojesen wooden toy elephant from the early 1950s in patinated oak with an amazing grain. The Elephant was created in 1953 by Kay Bojesen and from the start handmade in his s...
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Oak
Vintage Danish 1950s Kay Bojesen Hippo Wooden Oak Desk Pencil Holder Figurine
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Mid-Century Modern Kay Bojesen designed the Hippopotamus in 1955 because he needed a device to store his pencil's. The hippo is made of oak and features an adjustable jaw allowing yo...
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Oak
Kay Bojesen Jointed Monkey Toy Danish Modern Teak
By Kay Bojesen
Located in San Diego, CA
Kay Bojesen articulating and jointed teak monkey. Bought from the original owner who had it in the early 1960s. Nice color and patina the cords are loosely sold AS/IS.
Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Teak
Vintage Danish Kay Bojesen 1950s Wooden Oak Hippo Figurine Desk Pencil Holder
By Kay Bojesen
Located in St. Louis, MO
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Kay Bojesen " The Hippopotamus" oak figurine. Kay designed in 1955 because he needed a device to store his pencils. This hippo desk accessory ...
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Oak
Original Danish Kay Bojesen Toy Wagon "Family Trip", Colorful Beech Wood, 1950s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Kay Bojesen´s "Family Trip" is one of his most loved wooden toy designs.
This set is original vintage. It consists of wagon and 4 family members: mother, father and two children.
...
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Beech, Paint
Vintage Signed Largest Teak Articulated Monkey by Kay Bojesen, Denmark ca. 1952
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Geneva, CH
Rare Iconic vintage largest articulated monkey designed by Kay Bojesen, Denmark, 1952.
Teak and limba.
Articulated joints, head, arms, legs.
Can be hung by hands and feet on a shelf ...
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Teak
Kay Bojesen, Toy or Decorative Sculpture, Teak, Denmark, 1950s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in High Point, NC
A teak toy or animal sculpture designed by Kay Bojesen, Denmark, 1950s.
Dimensions variable, measured as illustrated in first image.
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Teak
Early Kay Bojesen Oak Elephant, Denmark, c.1955
By Kay Bojesen
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Kay Bojesen Oak Elephant, Denmark, c.1960.
Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Oak
Danish Oak Elephant by Kay Bojensen
By Kay Bojesen
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Danish Oak Elephant by Kay Bojensen, articulating arms, legs and trunk. Excellent condition.
Category
Late 20th Century Danish Post-Modern Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Oak
Kay Bojesen, Vintage Early Large Monkey, teak and limba wood, stamped, 1950s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
This is a vintage early example of the largest production monkey, designed by Kay Bojesen in 1951. Constructed from teak and limba wood, the joints are articulated allowing the monk...
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Teak
Kay Bojesen Bear Early Edition 1950 Danish Design
By Kay Bojesen
Located in The Hague, NL
Original vintage genuine Kay Bojesen wooden articulated Bear toy. Designed and produced by Kay Bojesen, Denmark.
This beautiful toy is in wonderful...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Oak
Small Articulated Teak Bear Stamped Kay Bojeson
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Ferndale, MI
Kay Bojesen wooden bear from the early 1950s in teak . Stamped Kay Bojeson Denmark Copyright .
Kay Bojesen from the start in 1932 hand made animal figure toys in his small Copenh...
Category
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Modern Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Wood
"Lille Abe På Strøget" Made In Teak By Kay Bojesen For Mads Nørgaard
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Lejre, DK
"Lille Abe på Strøget" is a special edition of Kay Bojesen's iconic monkey, crafted in teak wood. This version was created in collaboration with Danish designer Mads Nørgaard, known ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Teak
Kay Bojesen, Original Vintage Small Monkey, teak and limba wood, 1950s, signed
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
This is a vintage early example of the small monkey, designed by Kay Bojesen in 1951.
Constructed from teak and limba wood, the joints are articulated allowing the monkey to be plac...
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Teak
Kay Bojesen Oak Elephant Denmark, 1960s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Kay Bojesen oak elephant signed, Denmark, 1960s. Complete with moveable parts. Very good original condition. Signed on the feet: Bojesen Made in Denmark. Bojesen is primarily known f...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Oak
Vintage Kay Bojesen Articulating Wood Toy Elephant
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Chicago, IL
A early Vintage Kay Bojesen Articulating wood toy elephant. signed with early Denmark signature on foot.
Appears to have a slender chipped area on th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Kay Bojesen and Jorgen Bloch Lion in Natural Rope, Denmark 1960s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A rare example of the Danish toy-design-master Kay Bojesen work. This lion in braided natural rope was designed I collaboration between Jorgen Bloch and K...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Rope
Giant-Sized King's Guardsman by Kay Bojesen
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A very rare and monumental giant-sized model of the Royal Danish King's Guardsman hand crafted in wood having movable arms and legs and retaining its ...
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Kay Bojesen, Vintage Articulated Oak Elephant, designed 1953, Denmark
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
We are pleased to offer three vintage examples of the wooden elephant toy that was designed by Kay Bojesen in 1953.
Constructed in oak, the leg, neck and trunk joints are articula...
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Oak
Vintage Lion in Natural Rope by Kay Bojesen & Jorgen Bloch, Denmark, 1960s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A rare example of the Danish toy-design-master Kay Bojesen work. This lion in braided natural rope was designed I collaboration between Jorgen Bloch and K...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Rope
Kay Bojesen Reworked Mini Elephant In Multiple Wood Types 70th Anniversary
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Lejre, DK
Kay Bojesen Reworked Mini elephant anniversary model from 2023 in celebration of the 70th anniversary. The elephant is a special edition that is part of the reworked family. The elep...
Category
2010s Danish Modern Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Ash, Maple, Oak, Teak, Walnut
Vintage Scandinavian Oak Bear by Kaj Bojesen Denmark
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Vienna, AT
This Scandinavian Original vintage genuine Kay Bojesen wooden articulated Bear toy was designed and produced by Kay Bojesen, Denmark in the 1950s.
This bea...
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Oak
70th Anniversary Reworked Little Monkey By Kay Bojesen
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Lejre, DK
Little Monkey reworked by Kay Bojesen, released for the 70th anniversary, is a special edition of the iconic wooden figure. Kay Bojesen began his career as a silversmith under Georg ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Wooden Firefighters Truck by Kay Bojesen, 1960s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Kiel, SH
Fire fighters truck by Kay Bojesen
painted beech 1960s.
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Wood
70th Anniversary Reworked Little Bear By Kay Bojesen
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Lejre, DK
Little Bear reworked by Kay Bojesen, released for the 70th anniversary, is a special edition of the iconic wooden figure. Kay Bojesen began his career as a silversmith under Georg Je...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Wood
70th Anniversary Reworked Little Elephant By Kay Bojsen
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Lejre, DK
Little Elephant reworked by Kay Bojesen, released for the 70th anniversary, is a special edition of the iconic wooden figure. Kay Bojesen began his career as a silversmith under Geor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Kay Bojeson Laurids Lonborg Hand Painted Stout Guardsman Figure
By Kay Bojesen, Laurids Lonborg
Located in Ferndale, MI
Kay Bojeson guardsman figure. Hand painted white red with black feet. Sold by Laurids Lonborg Denmark retains original label. Completely original condition with little to no wear.
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Teak
Medium Bear Made In Oak & Maple By Kay Bojesen
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Lejre, DK
The Medium Bear is a mid-sized wooden figure designed by Kay Bojesen, crafted from oak and maple. This figure exemplifies Bojesen’s signature design style, blending simplicity with c...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Maple, Oak
Medium Panda Bear Made In Black/White Colours By Kay Bojesen
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Lejre, DK
The Medium Panda Bear from Kay Bojesen is a black-and-white wooden figure that continues Bojesen's classic design style, known for transforming animals into simple yet charming woode...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Kay Bojesen Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Kay Bojesen sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.
Kay Bojesen sculptures are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Kay Bojesen sculptures, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original sculptures by Kay Bojesen were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider sculptures by Knud Kyhn, Rörstrand, and Royal Copenhagen. Prices for Kay Bojesen sculptures can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $274 and can go as high as $25,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $588.
Creators Similar to Kay Bojesen
Questions About Kay Bojesen Sculptures
- Where is Kay Bojesen made?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Kay Bojesen wooden toys and figures are made in Denmark, and have been since 1930. The founding designer Kay Bojesen was born in Copenhagen in 1886, and the company Kay Bojesen was sold in 1990 to the design house Rosendahl, which is also based in Denmark. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic Kay Bojesen figurines.