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About the Maker - Ostheimer Wooden Toys
Background
Production
Sustainability
"It’s fun to practice slinking so that my siblings, the other Ostheimer foxes, don't hear me coming. Sometimes I even try to catch a little mouse rustling in the meadow. Because I’m still practicing, when I then make a leap through the grass, they have usually long scurried away in the grass. But I'm getting better and better!"
We find the scale of the smaller Ostheimer foxes sufficient to be a 'main fox figure' in a collection of animals; however, if the pose and grander scale of the larger foxes appeals, or if one would like to have a collection of parent and child and a fox family, then the larger foxes are certainly quite endearing as well.
8.5 cm long x 2 cm wide x 3.5 cm high.
Solid maple.
Made in Germany.
Wood contains tannins that have a natural antibacterial effect.
However, if cleaning is necessary, for example if it is heavily soiled, then Ostheimer recommends:
Use lukewarm water, possibly with a little diluted vinegar or a splash of ecological washing-up liquid (liquid dish detergent).
Gently rub the surfaces with a soft, clean cloth or sponge.
Lightly sand natural wood figures (not painted figures) in heavily soiled areas with 120 grit sandpaper.
After cleaning, rub the toy with a soft cotton cloth and let it air dry.
Nest Notes: Ostheimer items are known for being very smoothly sanded; however, should you ever encounter a rough spot or edge, you can use the 'brown paper bag trick', where you rub a brown paper bag just a little bit vigorously, and it acts as a very, very fine sandpaper that generally does not affect the colour.
We are a community of people who make wooden figures for children with diligence and a lot of heart. At Ostheimer, we have made toys in the same way for over 60 years - step by step in pure handcraft. We are guided by the vision of our company founders to produce simple yet beautifully designed wooden toys for children that convey an endearing, dignified image of people, animals and plants.
In accordance with our mission statement, we strive to manage our company with wider awareness and a holistic understanding of responsibility. This concerns the design of our toys, the quality of our products, the appreciative and careful handling of our materials and the social ethos within our company as well as towards our business partners.
Our business philosophy is based on three pillars of sustainable action: the production of high-quality, durable wooden toys suitable for children, responsible economic activities, and social commitment in society.
Our company, the Margarete Ostheimer GmbH, is foundation-owned and has around 70 permanent employees in Zell unter Aichelberg, Germany. These include 5 integrative jobs for people with support needs.
In addition, we employ about 80 home workers in the region in Germany, who are mainly engaged in figure painting, but also in woodworking. Only thanks to all these different people are we able to offer our large assortment of figures.
For decades, 5 independent family businesses in Poland have produced the range of Konrad Keller products and the former Kinderkram products. Here, too, manufacturing is done exclusively by hand. When Ostheimer took over Kinderkram in 2003, it was decided to keep manufacturing in Poland to preserve these family companies.
We also have a longstanding partnership with a sawmill in Hungary, with a manufacturer in Thuringia, and with a very high-quality wood crafting workshop in Bosnia. Our castle parts, our grasping toys, and various buildings are manufactured in Bosnia.
Every one of our product labels indicates the country where the respective product was manufactured. This gives our customers the greatest possible transparency.
Paying attention to high-quality, environmentally friendly materials has always been part of Ostheimer's business philosophy.
All our materials are consciously chosen. For example, our wood comes from sustainable local timber production. The material is treated with selected paints and organic oils, which preserve the natural properties of the wood and allow children to experience these properties.
For many people, trees are a symbol of life. They give us gifts in many ways. The sight of them has an uplifting and invigorating effect. They provide us with natural shade, breathable air and nourishing fruit. Wood also shapes our everyday lives as a material for houses and furniture. And in winter, it provides us with natural warmth.
Another great gift of trees is that people can create wooden toys from them. When treated carefully, it retains its natural vibrancy and strength to the benefit of children, who can experience the beauty of nature with all their senses through wooden toys.
Our company is owned by the non-profit Walter and Adeline Ostheimer Foundation, which ensures that our company will remain true to its guiding principles in the future and encourages us not to work toward profit maximization, but rather to keep our focus on ensuring the financial health of our company and supporting the common good.
We see businesses as having a responsibility to foster new, healthier forms of social coexistence and we have committed to going down innovative, sustainable paths in this respect.
Since 2001, Ostheimer has been owned by the Walter and Adeline Ostheimer Foundation. Profits that are not directly needed to keep our company healthy flow back into society through this foundation and support social causes and sustainable initiatives.