Renate Müller: A toy icon celebrates 60 years of design!

Renate Müller: A toy icon celebrates 60 years of design!

The world of toys has a creative mind worth looking out for. Renate Müller, an 80-year-old Thuringian toy designer, brings life to the history of the game. She is the creator of the popular plucked animals and lives and works in Sonneberg. The German Toy Museum is dedicating a comprehensive retrospective to her from November 6, 2025 to April 19, 2026, which traces the life of this remarkable artist. Tagesschau reports that The exhibition features both new and historical objects that have previously been seen in international metropolises such as New York, Miami and Venice.

Renate Müller, born on October 24, 1945, comes from a family that is deeply rooted in toy manufacturing. Her grandfather was already active in the industry and her parents ran a workshop that specialized in educational toys. The Wikipedia article about Renate Müller describes how she laid the foundations for her own design philosophy during her studies with Helene Haeusler, who was inspired by the Bauhaus. For Müller, it is important to design toys that are accessible to all children, regardless of impairments.

From the GDR to the international stage

Müller's career began in the 1960s when she began developing high-quality toys in her parents' workshop, including family-friendly plucked animals. She exhibited these first models at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1967, where they met with great interest. With a deft sense of children's needs, she worked closely with therapists to develop therapeutic toys designed to help children. Their ideas filled a great need, particularly in facilities for disabled children.

After reunification, Müller expanded her business by producing plucked animals for the Japanese market. This not only represented their economic salvation, but also made their creations extremely popular in the USA. Their robust toys have long been valued by collectors and museums and their early products now fetch high prices. As the Wikipedia article explains, a turtle from 1968 is valued at around 1,800 euros and Müller regularly supplies an art gallery in New York.

A toy museum at home

The retrospective at the German Toy Museum will showcase the evolution of Müller's work over the last 60 years. Christine Spiller, the director of the museum, emphasizes the importance of Müller's designs. The exhibition also contains many play equipment that visitors can try out - a wonderful way to experience childhood through toys.

For anyone interested in the history of toys, it is exciting to learn that many toys have their origins in the GDR and their roots go back to antiquity. Planet knowledge illuminated the evolution of toys over the centuries, from ancient toys in ancient Egypt to today's diverse offerings. With her designs, Renate Müller has not only contributed to history, but also built a bridge between tradition and modernity.

The retrospective “Renate Müller – 60 Years of Toys and Design” is a must for all toy lovers and offers a fascinating journey through the world of creativity and play. There is a lot to discover, so why not go to Sonneberg! Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.