3 Reasons Why We Love Museo Del Cavallo Giocattolo In Grandate
Toys are among the most popular symbols of Christmas: old, contemporary, traditional, innovative, all toys are able tell the magic of this festivity through their past, present and future history.
Fun fact: near Como, precisely in Grandate, we have a unique place where adults return as children, and where children dream with open eyes; a place where generations exchange dreams and memories. We’re talking about the Toy Horse Museum of Artsana Group, the first and today the only museum in the world dedicated to toy horses: just to give you a first taste of what this museum protects, it will be enough to tell you that the oldest toy horse there dates back to I cent. B.C (its name is Nino and it’s all made of terracotta!).
Even the location of this museum is special: the “scuderia Al Portichetto”, the stable of the famous Tornese trotter, who in the fifties captured the racetracks of half the world, winning 130 races and the title of Sauro Volante.
You don’t have any excuse: you totally need to drop in at least once during your stay at Lake Como. In this article we summarized 3 reasons why we think this nostalgic place is so one of a kind. Continue reading!
A toy horse from Naple, Italy
#1 A GREAT STORY OF GENEROSITY
Once upon a time, in 1969…
The story of this museum is something unique: it’s born thanks to the generosity of Cavalier del Lavoro Pietro Catelli, the founder of Artsana Group (Chicco is among its most famous brands).
In 1969 Mr Catelli bought a building and a huge land in Grandate, making them the headquarters of Artsana. On his 80th birthday, in 2000, he decided to leave a unique gift to his company and to Como: he inaugurated the Museum, exhibiting his collection of toy horses in the historic Tornese stable.
The generosity behind his choice is something fantastic.
"He who hadn’t had many toys as a child, thinks of giving himself and anyone who wants to be near him, a toy horse. Not one, but ten, a hundred, a thousand: a toy horse museum, to teach children how to turn off the computer and create with imagination.”
Luca Masia, Il signor Chicco. La vita straordinaria di un uomo qualunque
Mr Catelli used to say that in life everyone should leave a mark.
"The Toy Horse Museum is my testimony: I wanted to create a stable of dreams for the child who lives in each of us. […] We protect these precious objects, not only preserving them (finally freed from the dust of attics and bedrooms) but showing them to all those who are eager to dream".
Since then, the Museum has kept faith with its mission: to preserve and revive the charm of childhood through a collection of toy horses from all over the world.
A toy horse from Cuba, XX century
#2 AN EXTRAORDINARY HERITAGE
The museum is 400 square meters and exhibits an incredibly unique collection: more than 670 toy horses made from the eighteenth century until today, from pretty much every corner of the world. The original nucleus of the collection was donated to the Museum by Mr Catelli, but the collection is constantly increasing thanks to the donations that the Museum keeps receiving: many people deliver the games of their childhood to this special place. Entering the museum, each toy horse receives a name, which reminds the person who rides it and tells a story.
The collection is divided into 3 categories:
Toy horses: Rocking or tricycle, with stick or spring, made of wood or papier-mâché, tin or cloth, each toy horse is a unique work of imagination. You will se a surprising selection of towing horses on wheels, rocking horses (first seen in the seventeenth century for rich families - apparently the very first one of the world was made in London in 1610), as well as old carousel horses.
Italian toy horse, XX cent.
Carillons by Goffredo Colombani: that’s our favorite part, with no doubts. There are 7 magical boxes (all inspired by the 19th cent. tradition) that generate an incredibly sweet music throughout the museum. The carillons include a selection of magical characters - little mermaids, fairs etc. - who dance on the toy horses to the tune of the carillon.
Lehmann collection: 41 screen-printed tin toys produced in Germany from the late nineteenth century by Lehmann company (famous in the world for this kind of toys). They are quite old, but they still work perfectly!
Wanda Broggi paintings: a series of dreamlike paintings revolving around an imaginary dialogue between the horses and all the toys in the museum.
#3 THE PHILOSOPHY OF IMAGINATION
We particularly like the philosophy behind this museum: the importance of protecting and stimulating the imagination in both children and adults.
It’s not by chance that the Guggenheim Impresa e Cultura Prize has been awarded to the Museum, recognizing its value for a thematic choice in line with the mission of Chicco brand.
So what makes this museum so special to us?
First (this is quite a personal reason, but we want to share it with you), its mission: the idea of preserving the past is somehow in line with what we do with the conservative restorations we manage. We share with The Toy Horse Museum and its founder, Cav. Catelli, the commitment to preserve the past traditions.
Second, their praiseworthy project to make culture a cross between generations. We really wish for the toys to continue to be guides for children and adults in the fantastic world of imagination - so needed by our society!
PRACTICAL INFO & CHRISTMAS SPECIAL EVENTS
The entrance is free of charge.
Address: Via Tornese 10, Grandate (CO).
The museum is open from Tuesday to Friday from 15 to 19; Saturday 10-13 and 15-19. Closed on Sunday and Monday. For bookings: infomuseo@artsana.com
The Museum offers its visitors a path without barriers and accessible to anyone. There’s a wide elevator to visit both floors.
During Christmas, from 30th November to 5th January, the Pinacoteca Civica in Como (Tuesday-Sunday from 10 to 18; Via Diaz 84, Como) will host a special exhibition organized by the Museum in collaboration with Como Città dei Balocchi festival. This year the topic is the carousel. All info here!
“Because the time of the holidays - like a dream, like a turn of a carousel - is always a stolen time… Stolen to what? To the duty of living."
(D. Pennac)
www.museodelcavallogiocattolo.it
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