ADO Toys of CODA Museum- The Amazing Dutch Story Continued

Saturday, December 7, 2013

ADO Toys of CODA Museum
(The Amazing Dutch Story Continued)

  Yesterday, I wrote about  a great discovery. I'd like you to visit yesterday's post, rather than rewrite so  that it's more interesting and fascinating. However, that post was the stepping stone to today's post. CODA Museum is an acronym for an extraordinary museum, as is ADO for the toys. For those who don't know, the word acronym is simply letters used to represent something. An example would be 'asap" representing "as soon as possible". 

   ADO toys were designed by a Dutch designer by the name of  Ko Verzuu. The toys were made of wood, metal, and rubber and assembled in a sanatorium. The idea was for recuperating patients with various lung diseases and problems to be able to reintegrate into society by working, and thus they assembled toys. 

   When I discovered ADO, I sent out a few requests,  and Mr. Etienne Feijns wrote back first.  I published his post first, and waited to hear from  CODA Museum. I did, a few hours later. Adriaan Renkema, the Webredactuer and and part of the PR (Public Relations) replied, and helped me out . I was sent 3 high-quality logos that I use as watermarks over every photo. As well, Adriaan informed me where I could find very large resolution photos, which I did.  I would highly recommend that you go to the link that I'll add at the bottom off the page. As well, this is one of the best photography that I have seen in my writings to date.

CODA Museum is located in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. CODA is a museum  dedicted to  presenting the fine art of artists, and not solely toys. When you visit the site, you will see many different areas of art that is represented, as well as a schedule of future exhibitions.  

"CODA Museum presented the special collection of ADO toys (October  2012 - March 2013)  it was able to acquire in 2009 with the financial support of the Mondriaan Fonds, SNS REAAL Fonds and the Vereniging Museumvrienden van CODA. 

To design enthusiasts, toy collectors and inhabitants of Apeldoorn, the name ADO brings to mind the special collection of wooden toys that was designed by Ko Verzuu between 1925 and 1955. This collection is not only inextricably bound up with local history but also closely linked to innovations in art, health care and pedagogy in the first half of the 20th century. 

Occupational therapy for tuberculosis patients

In 1920, the sanatorium Berg en Bosch was founded in the sanctuary on the outskirts of Apeldoorn. This sanatorium offered rest and care to tuberculosis patients.

Once patients had recovered from their illness, returning to regular working life often proved to be difficult. In order to prepare patients better for their reintegration, the sanatorium developed a modern treatment: occupational therapy.

One of the ways this took shape was in the production of wooden toys. These toys were given the name ADO; an abbreviation that initially stood for Arbeid door Onvolwaardigen (Labour by the Deficient), but was wisely changed to Apart Doelmatig Onverwoestbaar (Special Functional Indestructible) in 1962.

Clear shapes, fresh colours and strong design

The colourful ADO toys were designed by Ko Verzuu (1901-1971), director of the ADO workshops. Verzuu’s designs for the many cars, trains, boxes of building blocks, doll’s house furniture, and games were inspired by the great artists of his time, such as Gerrit Rietveld (1888-1964) and Piet Mondriaan (1872-1944).

The combination of austere forms and a palette of bright primary colours explains the attraction these toys still hold. The pedagogical ideas of educational innovators Maria Montessori and Friedrich Fröbel were another source of inspiration for Verzuu."

** Please click here to read more of the history and exceptional stories of CODA and ADO

     

   

 If I ever return to Holland, I will most certainly visit CODA Museum located in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.  One of my childhood  desires was to be able to draw. I never did draw, and always told myself that I should take a course.

However, I did become a professional photographer, and thus tried to capture what I felt and saw through the camera.

Today's post was most enjoyable for me, as all of the elements for the post came well into play. Great photography, great toys, and of course a special story

about people.

What more could I ask for?

If you're wondering why the composition of the post is on the left, it's because of the copy and paste of the narrative that I copied from  CODA web page. Sometimes  that happens. Of course, with the story and photographs, I hope you will not be distracted.

Please click here for CODA Museum's excellent 
high-quality photos.

Thanks for dropping by,

and have a great part of the day or night,wherever you may be.

Stacey

toysearcher@gmail.com

An Amazing Dutch Story - Special Edition

Thursday, December 5, 2013

An Amazing Dutch Story

(Special Edition)

    This wonderful story (post) began yesterday, when I received an e-mail from 1stdibs with the title 1stdibs welcomes the Scandinavian designers. I had discovered this unbelievable website a while back, and wrote about a great American store by the name of  Radio-Guy. 

   Naturally, I did a search for toys exclusively for the Scandinavian merchants, and I was attracted to a very simple but beautifully designed toy. SInce there were only 1 or 2 of these brand name toys on 1stdibs, I decided to do a search on the net, and found many "hits". A few more search entries, and I had found several promising leads. I sent one request out to  an online gallery for quality vintage furniture, specialized in Dutch modern furniture, by the name of  MidMod-Design.  There I found more of today's toys, and permission from the store owner, but the story is more complex than that.

   Mr. Etienne Feijns, the owner of this wonderful store, wrote me back. Not only did he give me his permission to use his photos, but he sent along an most-interesting biography and narrative about the toys, the toy designer, and the company who made the toys (Ado). He also sent me a photo of the designer and his son.

I've added verbatim the written material that Etienne sent to me. There are a few minor translation errors, but the story is most heart-warming and unique.  A sanatorium is a type of  hospital that is for patients with breathing problems.

"Occupational TherapyThe sanatorium ( nursing ) Berg en Bosch settled in 1920 in the ' sanctuary ' on the outskirts of Apeldoorn . Lung Patients spent many months at rest by .When they were eventually restored the transition to working life they fell heavily . In order for this transition to prepare the patient for the sanatorium has developed a modern method of treatment : occupational therapy . One of the activities that were carried out by the patients, the production of wooden toys . This toy was named ' ado ' , an acronym standing for ' labor byincapacitated . In 1962 it was renamed 'ADO ' Different Efficient Indestructible ' design.The main attraction takes the toy to his design . Ko Verzuu dropped in the design of cars, trains , blocks, dollhouse furniture and games inspired by the great designers of De Stijl . Verzuu chose his toy designs bright colors and sleek shapes . Berg en Bosch is therefore in the twenties something created that is unique in culture, history . The toy was for sale in the better toy stores in the Netherlands, Metz & Co and the Bijenkorf.

Ko Verzuu (1901 - 1971) was a former construction supervisor in the city of Utrecht , who led the ADO workshops, which was made from 1925 to 1933 wooden toys : cars , furniture , building blocks , trains , dolls beds . He was the designer of the so coveted toy . He had immersed himself in art and architecture and developed a strong preference for the abstract lines and bright colors , which can also be found in the followers of De Stijl . This group of architects and artists were between 1917 and the early thirties active , they made abstract art in the primary colors red , blue and yellow. The dollhouse furniture ADO are strongly inspired by the clean lines and colors that the architect Gerrit Rietveld used . Verzuu tested the quality of his toys from his own team kids. The toy was better in almost all toy stores in the Netherlands and Metz & Co . and the Bijenkorf sale .In 1933 moved Regained Constitution ( the organization that ADO had started ) with clinic and workshops from Apeldoorn to Bilthoven . The ADO toys were made ​​here for years until 1950, when the social workplace ADO from a loss-making was converted . Into a business enterprise At the same time reduced the demand for wooden toys . Metal toy cars and trains were a favorite . In 1962 , ADO was for the symbolic sum of one guilder sold to the sheltered workshop in Zeist , the meaning of the three capital letters turned into separately. Effective . Indestructible. Less than two years ago, had the Sheltered Zeist production stop . ADO is now a sought-after collector's item , a collector's item ."

* Courtesy of Mr. Etienne Feijns

When I find more time, I will try and search for more information on the designer of the ADO toys - Mr. Ko Verzuu. Below is a photo of Ko with his son (1939) that Etienne sent me.

(please do not copy)

Please click here to visit this great store in the Netherlands

When I first went to visit Etienne's website, I was immediately attracted to the sell-designed website, then the great photography, and then the thorough written descriptions for each item of merchandise. I decided just to whiten the background, but left the photography intact. The composition of the photos and the occasional "dab" of colour make for  simple but excellent images.

and you could say that for the website, the other Dutch merchandise, and of course the great ADO toys.

 The light fixture image is Etienne's opening page on his website. 

You can see how easy it is to maneuver through the site, and how  visually dynamic the page is .

The above screen-capture is the opening kids (children's) page. You can see the quality of the design, the photography, and the arrangement of the photos in this montage.

You can see the Ado logo on the front of the truck

This truck and would be great to play with. It can be loaded, and I like the way the sides of the trailer can be unlatched and turned down.

As usual, I will return in the future, to Etienne's website to write another post. However, I just had to post this "special edition" today. I wanted to share it today and not wait. Of course, I'll have to work extra hard to "catch up" for tomorrow's post.

Thanks for dropping by for a visit,

and have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

Stacey

toysearcher@gmail.com