HANNO THE GORILLA: by David Weeks

“I FELT LIKE a modern day Geppetto,” admits American designer David Weeks - perhaps best known in the UK as the designer of the Semana leather chair for Habitat - of the process behind creating his new weighty wooden gorilla toy character for New York design outfit Areaware. “When I was making the initial prototype I was bringing home a new version every few nights. My son loves them. He still plays with them to this day.”

Originally Weeks - whose graphic, modern furniture lines are sold by Ralph Pucci - had intended to create a robot figure for Areaware that was somewhere between the Danish wooden toy figures so well loved by design critics and the Kid Robot figures, but, says Weeks, “as I sanded the articulated parts, it began to evolve into a gorilla.”

Hanno’s personality melds perfectly with Weeks’ robust approach to the expressive toy, which is made from sustainable beech sources, and is flexible and fling-about-able. “I really wanted to have a more contemporary feel as well as a stronger personality [than] the Danish toys. They are beautiful figures but very anonymous, and the Kid Robot figures are great, but a little too urban and very plastic.” Weeks felt he managed to create a “real personality” for Hanno “through his posture and stance, as well as the carved features on his face.” The result is a gorilla with attitude. “It would crush any would-be power ranger,” he says triumphantly.

Weeks is aware the toys are likely to be coveted by adults as collectibles - and indeed he debuted a limited edition tattoo-d Hanno at Design Miami in December, pictured below - but the regular toys ARE made to be played with and loved, and a smaller 8inch high Hanno is planned for later in the Spring: “It will be even more user-friendly for smaller hands and damn cute,” says its designer. ”I love to see well used objects, especially wooden ones. It gives them a context and a sense of history.”

*Find Hanno at Strawberry & Cream in the UK, and in the US at www.areaware.com and www.geniusjones.com

**click on the gallery images below to enlarge them.