Naef Spiele AG recently received a special piece of company history: an original copy of the Naef-Bau, developed around 1962.
The copy was donated by Dr. Toshihiko Hori, a former pediatrician from Ueda (Japan), who has been a fan of Naef toys for many years. It was part of the exhibition on Kurt Naef at the Meguro Museum of Art in Tokyo this summer.
The Naef-Bau was the first toy produced by the Naef company that transformed the dovetail joints familiar to carpenters and furniture makers into a playful form. This sophisticated joining technique made it possible not only to stack building blocks, but also to fit them together, move them around, and shape them—a completely new concept for creative play in the 1960s. This innovative idea combined precision craftsmanship, functional design, and educational standards in a unique way.
Today, more than 60 years later, we are honored to preserve this original piece in our collection. It reminds us of the values that have always shaped Naef: craftsmanship, aesthetics, and the joy of creative play.