SCHOWANEK. THE STORY OF A WOODEN TOY FACTORY THAT ENCHANTED THE WORLD

Today, children play with toys from Detoa; many grew up with Tofa toys; and some people in their 80s played with toys bearing the Schowanek brand. Yet they are all connected by the same factory in the Jizera Mountains valley. In the first half of the 20th century, two generations of the local Schowanek family built a business there that exported turned wooden goods all over the world.

The exhibition traces the development of Schowanek’s toy production, particularly from 1927 to 1945, when the company transformed from a manufacturer of wooden beads into one of Europe’s largest producers of wooden toys. Visitors will find a wide range of items here, from the first building sets and figurines to educational aids, board games, and other famous toys from the interwar period. The company emphasized quality of design, innovation in construction, and attractive packaging graphics, all of which contributed to its international export success.

Over a hundred exhibits selected from the collections of the National Toy Museum and the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague also include examples of postwar production by the state-owned enterprise TOFA and are complemented by several interactive elements for children.