Libuse Niklova (Libuše Niklová), née Kyselaková (1 April 1934

Zlín Zlín (in 1949–1989 Gottwaldov; ; german: Zlin) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 73,000 inhabitants. It is the seat of the Zlín Region and it lies on the Dřevnice river. It is known as an industrial centre. The development of the ...

– 5 June 1981

) was a toy designer. Czech national treasure and world queen of toys. A world-renowned designer and innovator who created over 230 original toys, many of which were produced in many color variants. Well-known are her rubber figurines, accordion animals and inflatable toys. Her legendary work is represented in the collections of museums around the world, for example in collections of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the

Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It plays a major role in developing and collecting modern art, and is often identified as one of ...

in New York, the

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in London, the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, or in the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague. In 2012, on the occasion of the annual Czech Grand Design Awards, she was the first female designer ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Life

She was born on April 1, 1934, in Zlín as Libuše Kyseláková. In the years 1949 to 1953, she studied, then a new field, the shaping of plastic materials at the Zdeněk Nejedlý State School of Applied Arts in Zlín and Uherské Hradiště, under the guidance of professors Luďěk Havelka and Jiří Jaška. After graduating in 1954, she joined the Gumotex factory in Břeclav, where she worked until 1964. In 1958, she married the painter František Nikl, a classmate from high school. In 1960, they had a son, the Czech painter, writer, and theater artist Petr Nikl, and in 1968 a daughter, Veronika. In 1961, she started working in Fatra Napajedla. In the course of her career, she obtained patents for nine inventions and three national industrial designs. She died prematurely on June 5, 1981, in Gottwaldov (Zlín). She designed accordion Tomcat or inflatable seating Buffalo and Giraffe. She sometimes designed the packaging for her toys.

Gumotex

At Gumotex Břeclav, where she worked after graduation, she mainly designed rubber squeaky toys. These were mainly figures and animals. They were first made from pressed and foam rubber, then from blown PVC, and in the 1960s, cast from PVC. Hand dyed with latex paints. She also created souvenir toys, made for example on the occasion of the 2nd Czechoslovak Spartakiad or the Brno Fairs and Exhibitions.

Fatra

After the birth of her son Peter, she worked in Fatra Napajedla from 1961 to 1980. Among her most famous creations are a black accordion tomcat, a ram, and a crocodile. When creating them, she was inspired by a bendable pipe from a „newly made flush tank“. She also designed the packaging in which the unassembled toy was sold. The child assembled it as a construction kit. She also designed toys for the smallest children, both inflatable and squeaky, which had very simple shapes. From the 1970s, she began designing larger inflatable and sit-on toys that were lightweight and washable. The Horse, the Rhinoceros, the Caterpillar, the Giraffe, the Lion, and the Polar Bear were among the followers of the Buffalo, whose prototype was created in 1971. Serial production began in 1973.

Genius

Libuše Niklová approached the toy as a whole, shaping a child’s personality. She was aware that the child learns, gets to know, and is educated through the toy. To top it all off, she elevated a functional object to art. Her toys had a nice shape, color, decor, unforgettable smell and sound. The toys could be used by children from one year of age without problems. The goal was to design a flexible, flexible, colorful toy that would immediately interest the child, and her toys fulfilled all of that. At the time, the toys were also very affordable.

Creations

Libuše Niklová created over 230 original toys, many of which were produced in many color variants. Very few of her designs remained in the prototype stage. Her work was so brilliant that some of her toys were copied in more than 25 countries around the world, not only accordions but also rubber squeaky toys and inflatable toys as well. Rubber squeaky toys
for Gumotex Břeclav in 1954–1964 Libuše Niklová designed 62 rubber toys, most of them squeaky, with the exception of a few dolls that do not have a squeaker. Many of these toys were also produced in several color variants. Hand-dyed with latex paints. She also designed a few toys as souvenirs, for example for the Spartakiad or Brno fairs and exhibitions. Rocking Rooster - rubber squeaking toy - design Libuše Niklová 1954 Gumotex Břeclav.jpg, Rocking Rooster 1954 Kitty with a ball - rubber squeaking toy - design Libuše Niklová 1956 Gumotex Břeclav.jpg, Kitty with a ball 1956 Alík the dog - rubber squeaking toy - design Libuše Niklová 1956 Gumotex Břeclav.jpg, Alík the dog 1956 Bunny - rubber squeaking toy - design Libuše Niklová 1956 Gumotex Břeclav.jpg, Bunny 1956 Calf - rubber squeaking toy - design Libuše Niklová 1956 Gumotex Břeclav.jpg, Calf 1956 Libuška - rubber (squeaking) toy - design Libuše Niklová 1957 Gumotex Břeclav.jpg, Libuška 1957 Hanka later Zuzana - rubber squeaking toy - design Libuše Niklová 1958 Gumotex Břeclav.jpg, Hanka 1958 Motorcyclist - rubber squeaking toy - design Libuše Niklová 1964 Gumotex Břeclav.jpg, Motorcyclist 1964 Tamer - rubber squeaking toy - design Libuše Niklová 1964 Gumotex Břeclav.jpg, Tamer 1964 Cosmonaut - rubber squeaking toy - design Libuše Niklová 1964 Gumotex Břeclav.jpg, Cosmonaut 1964 Accordion toys
for Fatra Napajedla in 1963–1967 Libuše Niklová designed 12 accordion toys, 10 animals, a baby and a train called Toot-Toot. These toys were ingenious and revolutionary, so much that, according to our research, they were copied in at least 25 countries around the world, and tens of millions of children played with them. Libuše Niklová thus influenced not only the production of plastic toys all over the world, but affected the childhood of millions of people. Today, they are highly sought-after design gems. Líba the tomcat - accordion, self assembly toy - design Libuše Niklová 1963 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Líba the tomcat 1963 Rafan the dog - accordion, self assembly toy - design Libuše Niklová 1965 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Rafan the dog 1965 Tiger - accordion, self assembly toy - design Libuše Niklová 1964 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Tiger 1964 Panther - accordion, self assembly toy - design Libuše Niklová 1964 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Panther 1964 Lion - accordion, self assembly toy - design Libuše Niklová 1964 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Lion 1964 Fox - accordion, self assembly toy - design Libuše Niklová 1964 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Fox 1964 Crocodile - accordion, self assembly toy - design Libuše Niklová 1964 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Crocodile 1964 Ram - accordion, self assembly toy - design Libuše Niklová 1965 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Ram 1965 Goat - accordion, self assembly toy - design Libuše Niklová 1965 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Goat 1965 Donkey - accordion, self assembly toy - design Libuše Niklová 1965 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Donkey 1965 Baby - accordion, self assembly toy - design Libuše Niklová 1964 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Baby 1964 Toot-Toot the train- accordion, self assembly toy - design Libuše Niklová 1967 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Toot-Toot the train 1967 Vernian toys
for Fatra Napajedla in 1966 Libuše Niklová designed 3 toys based on Jules Verne’s novels. Nautilus, Albatros and Epouvante. These toys were designed for Expo 1967 in Montreal, where they did not appear due to the previous regime for political reasons, they were said to be too Western. But eventually they got into production, although the Epouvante remained only as a prototype and was never mass-produced. Albatros - hračka, stavebnice - navrženo pro Expo Montreal - design Libuše Niklová 1966 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Albatros 1967 Nautilus - toy, kit - designed for Expo Montreal - design Libuše Niklová 1967 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Nautilus 1967 Inflatable toys
for Fatra Napajedla in 1963–1980 Libuše Niklová designed 140 inflatable toys. These inflatables were once again ingeniously designed, they were used both for playing in water and on land, some could also be used as children’s furniture or used for hopping. She also designed boats, sunbeds, water circles or pools. Some toys had sound. Buffalo small - inflatable sitting toy - design Libuše Niklová 1976 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Buffalo small 1976 Elephant calf - inflatable sitting toy - design Libuše Niklová 1975 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Elephant calf 1975 Giraffe small - inflatable sitting toy - design Libuše Niklová 1975 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Giraffe small 1975 Donkey - inflatable toy - design Libuše Niklová 1975 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Donkey 1975 Little Turtle - inflatable toy - design Libuše Niklová 1977 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Little Turtle 1977 Blackie the Tomcat - inflatable toy - design Libuše Niklová 1967 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Blackie the Tomcat 1967 Doggie - inflatable toy - design Libuše Niklová 1974 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Doggie 1974 Little Sun - inflatable toy - design Libuše Niklová 1974 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Little Sun 1974 Red Riding Hood - inflatable toy - design Libuše Niklová 1969 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Red Riding Hood 1969 Masha - inflatable toy - design Libuše Niklová 1975 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Masha 1975 Ice Hockey Player - inflatable toy - design Libuše Niklová 1976 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Ice Hockey Player 1976 Fatran - nafukovací člun - design Libuše Niklová 1969 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Fatran 1969 Arrow - inflatable lounger - design Libuše Niklová 1974 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Arrow 1974 Butterfly decor - inflatable swimming ring - design Libuše Niklová 1970 Fatra Napajedla.jpg, Butterfly decor 1970

Impact on the production of plastic toys in the world

Libuše Niklová designed 12 accordion toys, 10 animals, a baby and a Toot-Toot the train. In 1963, she applied for a patent (No. 115236) for a flexible plastic toy, the first of its kind in the world. These toys were so ingenious and revolutionary that, according to the research of researcher and collector Lukáš Toman, they were copied in at least 25 countries around the world. It can thus be said that tens of millions of children played with Libuše Niklová's toys, or more precisely with their almost identical copies. Libuše Niklová thus influenced not only the production of plastic toys all over the world, but affected the childhood of millions of people around the world.
Researcher and collector Lukáš Toman presented his discoveries at the unique exhibition How a Tomcat Travelled the World. Libuše Niklová's Toys and Their Foreign Hybrids, which was held in the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague from June 9 to October 2, 2022. The exhibition featured copies of Libuše Niklová's accordion toys from, for example, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Spain, but also for example from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam or also from Argentina or Israel. Tomcat - accordion toy, kit - copy around 1970 Poland.jpg, Tomcat - copy around 1970 Poland Tomcat - accordion toy, kit - copy around 1971 Poland.jpg, Tomcat - copy around 1971 Poland Tomcat - accordion toy, kit - copy around 1969 Austria.jpg, Tomcat - copy around 1969 Austria Tomcat - accordion toy, kit - copy around 1970 Taiwan.jpg, Tomcat - copy around 1970 Taiwan Tomcat - accordion toy, kit - copy around 1970 Hong-kong.jpg, Tomcat - copy around 1970 Hong-kong Tomcat - accordion toy, kit - copy around 2000 Vietnam.jpg, Tomcat - copy around 2000 Vietnam Dog - accordion toy, kit - copy around 1970 Poland.jpg, Dog - copy around 1970 Poland Dog - accordion toy, kit - copy around 1970 Israel.jpg, Dog - copy around 1970 Israel Tiger - accordion to, kit - copy around 1970 Romania.jpg, Tiger - copy around 1970 Romania Ram - accordion toy, kit - copy around 1972 Poland.jpg, Ram - copy around 1972 Poland

Notable exhibitions

Libuše Niklová’s work has been featured in various exhibitions for over 60 years.
How a tomcat travelled the world Libuse Niklova

- 2010 200 dm3 dechu (200 dm3 of breath) - the Regional Gallery of Fine Arts in Zlín, House of Arts in Zlín, Czech Republic
– 2010 200 dm3 dechu (200 dm3 of breath) – the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Czech Republic
– 2011 Plastique ludique – the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Louvre in Paris, France
– 2011 Paris et Création – Plastique ludique – the

Galeries Lafayette The Galeries Lafayette () is an upmarket French department store chain, the biggest in Europe. Its flagship store is on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris but it now operates in a number of other locations in France and othe ...

in Paris, France
– 2012 Century of the Child: Growing by Design, 1900–2000 – the

in New York, USA
– 2013–2014 Designing Modern Women 1890–1990 – the

in New York, USA
– 2019 100 Years of Czech Design – the Okazaki Mindscape Museum,Okazaki City Museum of Art (Aichi) in Okazaki, Japan
– 2019 100 Years of Czech Design – the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design in Toyama, Japan
– 2019 100 Years of Czech Design – the

Setagaya Art Museum The is an art museum in Yōga, Setagaya, Tokyo. The museum, which opened March 30, 1986, houses a permanent gallery and mounts seasonal exhibitions. Structure The main building of the museum, a contemporary design by architect Shōzō Uchii, ...

in Tokyo, Japan
– 2020 100 Years of Czech Design – the

Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama The is the first public modern art museum in Japan. The museum consists of three halls: Kamakura, Kamakura annex, and Hayama. Outline of halls Kamakura hall (main building) The hall is located in Yukinoshita, Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture, ...

in Hayama, Japan
– 2020 100 Years of Czech Design – the National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto, Japan
– 2022 How a Tomcat Travelled the World: Libuše Niklová's Toys and Their Foreign Hybrids – the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Czech Republic

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Niklová, Libuše 1934 births 1981 deaths