Despite being one of the most iconic plastic toys of all time, the first LEGO toys were, in fact, crafted from wood. The company, founded by master carpenter Ole Kirk Kristiansen in 1932, initially crafted the toys out of wood but switched over to plastic when wood supplies became scarce in the aftermath of WWII.
With the launch of the LEGO® Originals Wooden Minifigure 853967, the LEGO Group, in collaboration with designers from Room Copenhagen, is introducing a new range of products that pay homage to the company’s wood material history.
The 5:1 upscaled version of the classic LEGO Minifigure is handcrafted from oak, with adjustable yellow plastic hands just like today’s LEGO Minifigures—a nod to both the past and the present. The model measures over 7” (20cm) tall, 4” (11cm) wide and 3,5” (9cm) deep. The last LEGO product to combine both wood and plastic was the 1130 Bedford firetruck 60 years ago in 1959.
“I have always been committed to making the nicest and most robust objects, and just like other carpenters I believe the best type of advertising is when the product promotes itself. Our purpose is to produce a really good, solid and finely crafted piece of work, and ensure LEGO products always be known for their exceptional quality”.
– LEGO founder Ole Kirk Kristiansen
Since the first one was released in 1978, there have been over 8,000 different official LEGO Minifigures launched. In keeping with the tradition of owners customizing their Minifigures, LEGO encourages owners of the new wood Minifigure to customize and share their creations on social media using the #LEGOOriginals hashtag.
“It has been a privilege for us to expand our collaboration with The LEGO Group and contribute to the world premiere of a new series of design classics,” explains Jacob Eberhard, CEO of Room Copenhagen. “Going back to the roots of the company and helping to bring back some of the original LEGO toys in new creative ways is an exciting journey to be part of.”
The figure will be available globally on November 8th, 2019 at LEGO.
