Taet Tat: The Joy of a Simple Gift - Ameico

1 Church Street, New Milford, CT 06776
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Classic toys at AMEICO: “Mein kleines Dorf”
New Milford, CT—AMEICO’s collection reaches out past the normal bounds of contemporary design with the
addition of Mein kleines Dorf, (My Little Town). But here is a successful thing, this simple toy from the 1960s, which
AMEICO’s Stephanie Kahane grew up playing in Germany. Still in production, it reminds those of us with gray on
our heads of a simpler time, of wholesome village living, of innocence before life hit the fast lane. For some, it
triggers forgotten childhood memories.
But what would kids today think of Mein kleines Dorf? What would they think as they handle the solid birch houses
with steep painted roofs, the fat cut-out sheep and the miniature train? Could these things translate into an
unexplained familiarity with European vernacular architecture later in life? Would the younger generation feel a
sense of having gone back in time to their grandparents’ or their parents’ childhoods? Mein kleines Dorf, long after
the children outgrow the set, is a lovely Christmas village to be set out on the mantel with its charm and romantic
evocations.
Produced by a respected German wooden toy firm named Goki, named after owners Gollnest and Kiesel, Mein
kleines Dorf is manufactured by fair-trade practices using non-toxic materials. Goki returns a portion of their profits
to reforestation, school-building projects, and anti-child labor campaigns. The set contains 46 pieces of solid birch
wood figurines, buildings and wall tiles in a handy box (11”x7”x2.5”). Retail price $ 32.
AMEICO was founded in 1995 by Peter and Stephanie Kahane to import, distribute and curate fine European
contemporary design products in the USA. AMEICO represents design firms such as Santa & Cole, Danese
Milano, Conmoto and Sirch, among others.