toys

Malcolm Forbes' Nautical Collections Up for Auction

Last month antique toys from the collection of the late Malcolm Forbes fetched $2.3 million at Sotheby's. Now on Jan. 29–30 Georgia's Red Baron antiques is staging its own sale of ship models, important nautical art and maritime collectibles from the tycoon's vaults. The Forbes offerings include the largest private fleet of ship models ever assembled and total sales could hit seven figures as well. Some of the most impressive ship models include a 14.5-ft. long full-hull rigged builder's model of the British twin-screw steamship Orontes, built by England's Vickers & Armstrong and first launched in Feb. 1929; a 12-ft. builder's model of the British twin-screw passenger liner Rangitiki, built in 1929 by John Brown & Co. of Scotland; and an original Royal Yacht model depicting the sailing ship Britannia, first launched in 1893. 400 paintings, several statues, and an antique diver's helmet round out the offerings.

Gallery: Malcolm Forbes Nautical Collection

Tags: antiques, Forbes, Malcolm Forbes, model ship, nautical, steamship, toys, yacht

The Limited Edition Barbie Foosball Table

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Holiday Guides, Luxury Shopping

The Limited Edition Barbie Foosball Table

FAO Schwarz has the perfect gift for the ultimate Barbie lover just in time for the holidays.

The Bonzini Babyfoot Barbie Foosball Table is the most extravagant item from Mattel's limited-edition, privately commisioned, "The Plastic Collection" of carefully curated Barbie items from around the world.

Only an exclusive few of Barbie's biggest fans now have the opportunity to purchase the limited edition foosball table, as only eight tables of this type will be commissioned.

From the imagination of young french designer Chloé Ruchon, a student at Decorative Arts School in Strausburg, comes the ultra-pink Barbie foosball table. It was created in partnership with Mattel and the Bonzini group, the worldwide leader of foosball tables.

Tags: barbie, barbie doll, FAO Schwarz, Foosball table, limited edition, mattel, toys

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24K Gold Ltd. Edition Toy Soldiers from Chandelier x Partners & Spade

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Men's Style

Just in time for Father's Day, Richard Christiansen, advertising guru and founder of New York's Chandelier Creative, has collaborated with Andy Spade's acclaimed design studio Partners & Spade to create the ultimate toy for boys – a five piece, 24 karat gold, limited edition toy soldier set. Comprised of an embossed incandescent gold box with a fitted case for five individually crafted soldiers, it's being produced in a limited edition of 100. Each soldier is handmade, individually capturing a slightly different look and feel, so no two will be exactly the same. They are all engaged in various activities – some are marching, some are standing guard, and others are taking pictures. Accompanying the soldiers are four different props, also 24 karat gold, ranging from a chiseled brick wall and barrel that provide a safe place for cover, to a pile of debris. The limited edition sets will be available to purchase exclusively at Partner's & Spade in NYC beginning Saturday at $500.00 apiece.

Tags: Andy Spade, Fathers Day, gold, Jack Spade, Kate Spade, New York, Partners Spade, toy, toys

Teddy Tours Will Take Your Stuffed Bear on a Dream Vacation

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Children

Tired of coming home from vacation and getting guilty looks from the stuffed animals you left behind? Teddy Tours has the answer as they will take your favorite stuffed buddy (not you, just him) on a dream vacation to Finland. There are several itineraries available featuring trips to various Finland cities, a river cruise, visit to a reindeer farm, trip to see Santa, and horseback riding. And since you don't get go with your toy everything is documented in photos.

Prices for Teddy Tours range from $140-$216, which seems competitive with the other toy travel agency we covered not too long ago. The fact that two of these strange companies popped up suddenly begs the question: is this traveling toys thing a real trend?

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Tags: finland, stuffed animals, toys, travel, travel agency

Toy Travel Agency Will Take Your Teddy Bear on a Luxury Vacation

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Children

Inspired by the 2001 film Amelie, a new travel agency in the Czech Republic called Toy Traveling is offering a unique luxury vacation not for you, but for your toys. You send them your favorite stuffed animal and they'll take it on an escorted luxury trip all around Prague, taking photographs of it at sights like Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge. And if you'd like your fuzzy friend to really have a great time you can even pay extra for a massage, which includes incense and candles, or the 'dearest package' that comes with a cushion and duvet to make the journey home especially comfortable on his padded little behind.

Prices start at about $120 for the basic package and get up over $200 depending on options.

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Tags: prague, stuffed animals, StuffedAnimals, toys, travel, travel agency, TravelAgency

'Dolly Forever Barbie' by Christian Louboutin

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Shoes, Children, Celebrity Design

Dolly Forever Barbie by Christian Louboutin

First we had Cat Burglar Barbie, now we have Dolly Forever Barbie, and who only knows what might be coming next (Trapeze Barbie maybe?). Christian Louboutin has truly found his muse in Barbie, "dolling" her up this time in a safari-inspired ensemble featuring a very bright pair of pink fringed knee-high boots, a khaki tunic dress, and darling little pink glasses. Plus of course 3 other pairs of miniature red-soled shoe designs.

She's not available for another couple weeks (look for her to go on sale at Net-a-Porter on March 3rd) and pricing should be right around $150.

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Tags: barbie, christian louboutin, ChristianLouboutin, safari, shoes, toys

Palro Robot by Fujisoft: So Cute But What Does It Do?

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

A big question is: Does the public care what it does? It seems that the products designed by the robot industry are caught somewhere between being a very expensive toy and useless. Ever since Rosie was introduced on the Jetsons in the 1960s there has been a collective fantasy that a real housekeeper robot will miraculously emerge on the scene to help busy people manage their lives. Who wouldn't be interested in a helping hand who could cook, walk the dog and in general help out around the house? The Roomba vacuum, which can help with cleaning up some extra pet hair, doesn't count! Video chatting has become a simple reality; where is our "Rosie"?

At the moment The Japan Pulse reports that the newest robot to hit the market is the Palro Robot by Fujisoft. Showcased recently in Japan this cute humanoid stands a little over a foot tall and performs a variety of tasks. Included in this robot's repertoire is the ability to interact with household appliances such as televisions and cameras, act on voice commands, read out weather and news reports and of course the ever useful ability to dance. For those of you technology geeks who want to know the specifics here they are: Palro comes with a 1.6GHz CPU Intel Atom CPU, 1 GB of RAM, 4 GB of flash memory, a 3 MP camera, Wi-Fi, 802.11 b/g/n, 3 megapixel webcam and a lithium ion battery.

The company plans to sell the robots starting on March 15, 2010 with the main market being research institutions but plans to sell it to the rest of soon after for a hefty price tag of 298,000 Yen which is over $3,000 US dollars for each humanoid pal! For those of you with some cash to burn Palro seems like an excellent luxury toy but I'm waiting for my "Rosie"!

Check out video of Palro in action after the jump.

Tags: cute, fujisoft, Japan, palro, Robots, technology, toys

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$10,000 Teddy Bear Debuts at Toy Fair

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Children

This past weekend one of the toys at the American International Toy Fair in New York was getting so much attention it even had its own bodyguard. The culprit was the above pictured teddy bear and all the hullaballoo was everyone wanting to get a look at what a plush animal with a $10,000 price tag looks like. Snuffles, as he's called, is bound to be cuddly (although would anybody dare?) in real white alpaca fur accented with black Tahitian pearl eyes and of course that front-and-center pendant featuring 10 carats worth of diamonds on a white gold chain. Snuffles is currently on a nationwide tour before being auctioned off for charity later this year.

Via Bornrich

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Tags: teddy bear, TeddyBear, toy, toys

Herman Miller Select Eames Inspired Walnut Tops Set

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

You may know Herman Miller as a chair and furniture maker, but the company also makes items for the home. As people buy less products made in America, I think that Herman Miller takes prides in the fact that it is an American company, and enjoys releasing uniquely American products. Another side of Herman Miller you may not be familiar with is Herman Miller Select. The point of Select is to align with important designers and create one special product at a time. The first Herman Miller Select product was an Eames inspired chair, and now it is a set of toy tops.

The set of three tops was designed by New York city based design firm Klein Reid. If you are familiar with their work, you'll see the similarity in these tops. The design is inspired by famous designers Charles and Ray Eames (think, the Eames chair). The Eameses themselves looked to toys for inspiration in their work. Herman Miller currently produces Eames designed furniture, so it makes sense for them to offer these limited edition tops.

Made of high-quality turned solid Walnut wood, to me the tops each represent different periods of American design aesthetic - from ornate decoration to stark modernism. The tops arrive together as a set and are each between about 4 - 4.75 inches in size. They work too, but you have to use two hands to spin them. The look of wood and soft edges make the tops attractive pieces of decorative art, evoking imagery of toys from a simpler time as well as pure Americana. A good gift idea. Production is limited and will cease forever in April 2010. Price is $199 per set and available at select Herman Miller dealers and retailers. You'll need to locate a Herman Miller dealer or retailer here if you want to get a set.

Gallery: Herman Miller Tops

Tags: Eames, Herman Miller, HermanMiller, Klein Reid, KleinReid, limited edition, LimitedEdition, Select, tops, toys

Mercedes-Benz is Dreaming of a White Christmas

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Holiday Guides, Children

Mercedes-Benz Unveils New Gift Collection In Brilliant White For The Holidays

Mercedes-Benz makes holiday gifts for the whole family.

New this year, Mercedes-Benz has released a new gift collection in Brilliant White, with many items perfect for kids.

This little car will make any rugrat smile as he or she scoots around the brick driveway in style. Brand loyalty starts in the cradle, as they say, and this is a smart move for Mercedes-Benz.

"The high-profile whisper wheels fitted as standard on genuine Mercedes-Benz multi-spoke rims minimize the noise level."

The Brilliant White collection also features bicycles, hats, clothing, and a really great sled. See the gallery below for Luxist's favorite items from the new collection.

[via eMercedesBenz]

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Brilliant White Collection

Tags: brand loyalty, BrandLoyalty, cars, gifts, kids, mercedes, mercedes-benz, sleds, toys, white

Titanium Tricycle is Indestructable

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Children

Kids are notoriously rough on their toys and sometimes it's worth it to spend a little extra to get something that can stand up to the abuse. Outdoor toys like bikes not only take a beating from your kids but from the weather also, which is why some parents might opt to splurge on this titanium tricycle. Not only does it have a nearly indestructible and rust-proof titanium frame, but it also looks classy with its carbon seat and white leather saddle, plus bright white wheel rims.

Although I still prefer the traditional red tricycle this one does look pretty snazzy. $2,500

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Tags: bicycle, bike, children, kids, titanium, toy, toys, tricycle

Donna Wilson Creatures are Cute and a Little Creepy

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Children

Cute? Yes. Cuddly? Yes. A little bizarre and screwy looking? Yes.

That's how I describe these stuffed animals from Donna Wilson, the collection being called simply "Donna Wilson Creatures." And 'creatures' is really the only way to describe this eclectic mix of plush creations which includes a snail named Stick, a dog named Oscar, and several mystery creatures named things like Stripey Head, Peeping Tom, and Angry Ginger. They look hand-drawn and unique, which I love, but most of them also have eyes that sit way too far apart, which I don't like (makes them look like they're missing a chromosome or something). Prices range from $84 to $164 each.

Gallery: Donna Wilson Creatures

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Tags: animal, animals, children, creatures, donna wilson, DonnaWilson, gift, gift ideas, GiftIdeas, gifts, kids, stuffed animals, StuffedAnimals, toy, toys

Baller Toys: "Nothing is Too Extravagant"

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Decor, Gadgets, Garden, Sports, Holiday Guides, Children, Men's Style

Climatech 1001 Climate Controlled Cabinet Humidor, $4,695.00

Baller Toys is a new website designed to bring you the very best in glamorous home entertainment--and we're not talking TVs and stereos!

Above is the Climatech 1001 Climate Controlled Cabinet Humidor. At $4,695.00, it is the least expensive of the four humidors available from Baller Toys.

Some exclusive items from the luxury website include:

Mars Made and MartinBauer custom billiards tables ($35,000-$100,000)

Teckell crystal foosball tables ($7,500-$10,000, other designer foosball tables up to $27,000)

The International Dance Party, one-of-a-kind party machine ($67,000)

VirtualGT Racing Simulators ($18,995+)

Keep an eye on Baller Toys for great things now and in the future. We love their motto: "Nothing is too extravagant."

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Tags: baller, baller toys, billiards, cigars, foosball, humidor, online shopping, OnlineShopping, pool, pool table, toys, virtual racing

Variety Power Of Youth Auction Offers A Night Alone In A Toy Store

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Charity

One of the interesting things about charity auctions is seeing what lots are the most popular and which ones languish at the bottom (I always feel a little bad for the lots with low bids). Variety is doing an auction with Charity Folks to benefit St. Jude children's hospital. The auction includes walk-on roles on hot TV shows like Shark and Mad Men (and set visit to Heroes) and tickets to events like the Survivor finale and the Grammys. One of the hottest lots though is one for the kiddies, or perhaps the kid in all of us. It's a late night party at FAO Schwarz toy store for 12 guests (just like Tom Cruise did for Katie Holmes). The private party lasts from 9PM-3AM with activities including dancing on the Big Piano, a scavenger hunt, face painting and entertainment by costumed characters. The next bid on this prize is $10,000. And if you are looking for a low bid auction you could always bid on the memorabilia from Corbin Bleu, most famous for his role as "Chad" in Disney's High School musical...

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Tags: auction, charity, fao schwarz, st. jude, toys, variety

Think Geek's Holiday Gadget List

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Holiday shopping guide season already? Early birds are already getting the jump on the season. Recently we saw the Neiman Marcus Fantasy List but if you are looking for something a little less pricey and a whole lot geekier, Think Geek has unveiled their list which is an answer to the Neiman's list. Instead of the $75,000 Swami conversational robot, you can spend $349.99 on Pleo, the robotic dinosaur, instead of the Online Media Wall, you can opt for a wi-fi enabled photo frame. Other fun gadgets include the mobile surveillance robot which looks like a Mars rover and has a mini video camera, the MySky GPS star tracker, which eliminates messing around with star maps to understand the constellations,iPod video goggles and the LED art fan which not only cools you off but also provides a complete light show. Details and prices in the gallery.

Gallery: Think Geek