Danish design house - 8 iconic brands
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FSC® C140259
A charming heavyweight turns 70. With its open mouth and whimsical expression, the Hippo is a figurine you love at first sight. It’s almost too fun to be true, and it’s easy to understand why Kay Bojesen was inspired by one of the animal kingdom’s most original characters when he created his famous and beloved Hippo back in 1955. Unlike most of Kay Bojesen’s wooden animals, which are often seen in soft and round shapes, the Hippo is somewhat more angular in design with predominantly straight and even lines – yet it excels with a big and loving smile and lots of power and a twinkle in the eye. The Hippo has that unmistakable expression of care and harmony, almost as if the strong wooden figurine communicates, ‘trust me, I’ve got your back’. According to the archives, Kay Bojesen himself had a grey Hippo on his desk. And the round birthday is celebrated with two anniversary editions in FSC® certified beechwood painted in an exclusive grey colour – a true hippo colour – with the large mouth painted pink. Whether you choose this anniversary version at 9 cm in height or the slightly smaller Liliput version at 6 cm, you get handcrafted quality in a beloved playful and timeless design, where the Hippos with their friendly expression, round eyes, and long strong form will add a touch of cosiness and warmth to any room. Use them, for example, as small, surprising design elements in the home, peeking out where you least expect it. The two grey Hippos are only produced in 2025 and will therefore also be perfect as a unique gift for christenings, birthdays, graduations, weddings – or major anniversaries.

Kay Bojesen

Wooden animals

The Kay Bojesen Wooden Animals range consists of a beautiful and imaginative bunch of animals from tree monkeys to songbirds – all beloved design classics that quickly become part of the family and fit into any home. Kay Bojesen worked based on the philosophy that wood only comes to life when it gets a story – a philosophy that was consistent with all his figures. The combination of this concept and Kay Bojesen’s unique talent turned his magical world of Wooden Figures and Animals into beloved classics and design icons that will last for decades to come.

Kay Bojesen is one of the big Danish designers. He was able to turn wood into original stories like no other. He had a knack for bringing the wood to life. Or as he put it: “Making the line smile”. And the lines certainly smile in each of the Wooden Animals – which have all become iconic.
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Kay Bojesen is part of Rosendahl.com

We preserve and develop Danish design icons so that both present and future products can be part of the brands that have helped create our Danish design culture.