A Seven Foot Playmobil Indian
Instead of joining the droves of Parisians in the park on this much anticipated sunny Saturday, Charles and I headed to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs because of one solitary word, Playmobil. Like any six-year-old boy, Charles is obsessed with anything Playmobil or Lego, so when we found out that there was a Playmobil exhibition, there was no choice but to check it out.
Noah's Ark with Animals Two by Two
Circus!
The small hallway-like rooms were bustling with wide-eyed children admiring this Playmobil wonderland. For protection from curious fingers, most of the colorful displays were in cases. With hands and noses firmly pressed to the glass, little ones stared with fixated focus at the circus, pirate, knights in armor, and everyday life scenes. The gallery retraces this German toy brand’s history and evolution, including original packaging and miniature characters. The Once upon a time there was Playmobil exhibition will be in Paris until the 16th of May.
Original Farm Collection
After about 20 minutes in this child haven, Charles turned to me and said, “I wish this was my home and I had a key to all the glass boxes at night.” Homerun.
The exhibition is small, so be sure to visit the Les Lalanne and Animal exhibitions as well, which are both child-friendly.
Les Lalanne's Bronze Bird
The Lalanne was spectacular. The two artists, Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne, focus their Surrealist creations on nature and animals, while giving sculpture a specific use, ie. a bird bed, camel chairs, a hippopotamus bathroom, etc. Simply fantastic and whimsical. I LOVED the enchanting world they created. This major exhibition will be up until July 4th.
Camel Seats
If your child is craving toys again, visit the Animal exhibition, which runs February 18, 2010–November 30, 2011. This gallery explores the styles, forms and periods in which animals have been used in toys, furniture, textiles, and fashion. My nostalgic moment was seeing a Care Bear collection, while Charles went crazy when he spotted Uglydolls. Although, hands down, the most spectacular sight was the pheasant hat. Amazing!
Pheasant Hat
