Enzo Mari: When Wood Becomes a Story. Discover Iconic Children's Design by Danese Milano

Can a toy also be a work of art exhibited at MoMA in New York? If it was designed by Enzo Mari, the answer is a resounding yes. At the Design Museum, we believe that taste is refined from childhood, which is why our shop features legendary pieces from the Italian brand Danese Milano that have remained timeless for over sixty years.

Enzo Mari (1932–2020) was a visionary. He hated cheap, gaudy toys that lost their appeal after a week. He wanted to create objects that developed imagination, logic, and a sense of form. His work for Danese Milano is now considered the gold standard of "educational design."

16 Animali: A Puzzle with No Limits

The main star of our Mari collection is undoubtedly the wooden puzzle 16 Animali (16 Animals). It is a fascinating object carved from a single piece of oak wood.

• What's the magic? Mari spent years simplifying animal shapes so they fit together perfectly like a puzzle. Elephant, hippopotamus, camel, or giraffe – all form one harmonious whole.

• Play without instructions: There is no single right way to play with the animals. Children build towers, create zoos, or discover how the shapes fit together. This develops their spatial imagination without them even realizing it.

Wooden Figures and a World of Fantasy

In addition to the famous animal puzzle, you'll find other Mari objects and figures in our shop. Each is a celebration of material and minimalism. Mari believed that the less "literal" a toy is, the more space it gives to a child's mind. His wooden figures are not just toys – they are sculptures that will grow with your children. Once they stop playing with them, they will become an iconic addition to your interior.

Books That Speak Without Words

Complementing the wooden objects are Mari's authorial books. Like Bruno Munari, Enzo Mari experimented with format. His books often don't use text but tell stories through colors, shapes, and sequences of images. They are "visual alphabets" that teach children (and adults) to perceive the world around them in its purest form.

Why Take Home a Piece of Enzo Mari?

An investment in Danese Milano design is not an investment in a toy for one season. It is a piece of history that is passed down from generation to generation. In Malá Strana, we have selected the best of what Mari's legacy has to offer for you.

Come and feel these wooden treasures for yourselves. But we warn you – once you pick up 16 Animali, you won't want to let go. The weight of the wood and the perfection of the shapes are absolutely addictive.