Categories / Art and Photography, Toys and Games

The Cube Fontaine by Claire Fontaine

Claire

Paris-based Claire Fontaine is a contemporary artist whose work intentionally looks like someone else's or indeed something else. I think we all know where The Cube Fontaine takes its inspiration.

Available at Colette, this is obviously a Rubiks Cube, but with a hip artistic twist. That being the colour, with the six colourful side replaced by 'views of the surface of the sea', which is said to mix 'the solid of the cube and the liquid of water while discreetly evoking ecological disasters that surround us'.

If that's a bit deep for you, let's just say an 80s icon has now been thrown into the contemporary world of art and available to you for 32 Euros online.

Find out more at the Colette website

Categories / Homeware, Toys and Games

Lego Lights Torch

Lego_torch

Yes, it's more Lego, but the Lego Lights Torch does at least perform a very practical function.

But let's look at the fun bit first. This is a 19cm-tall Lego man, officially licensed and posable, so you can use him as an ornament or desktop buddy. But when the darkness falls, that in-house companion lights up with a touch of the logo, shining LED Light through one of its feet, enough to see you through a fusebox emergency for sure.

Powered by 3x AAA batteries, the Lego Lights Torch sells for £14.99.

Find out more at the Firebox website

Categories / Kids, Toys and Games

Retro arcade game baby grow

Babygrow

Pac-man seems to gets everywhere, from seating to a carpet and even a washing-up sponge. Well, now you can inflict the gaming classic on your kids with the retro game arcade baby grow.

It's a simple but instantly recognisable design and comes from the range of The Green Apple, a company who specialize in eco-friendly and ethically sourced products. This baby grow is made from organic cotton, so the kid has got some twenty-first century green credentials as well as the 80s look.

The babygrow costs £19.

Buy it from Bouf

Categories / Toys and Games

Atomix 1960s office toy by Francois Dallegret

Atomix

Remember the days before the internet? No, we can't either, but take our word for it, time wasting was still rife for executives, with gadgets like the Atomix office toy by Francois Dallegret.

It was originally made in 1966 as a teaching tool for physics classes – 6,000 ball bearings fitting perfectly together like atoms to create complex structures and weird patterns when shaken or tilted.

It's back in slightly reformed style today via Areaware, an acrylic casing holding those steel balls. Price? That's £53.

Find out more at the Panik Design website

Categories / Homeware, Toys and Games

Retro arcade sponge at Urban Outfitters

Pac-man sponge

Most people will probably be thankful for anything that makes the chore of washing-up more exciting. For those who have moved from gaming into domesticity, this retro arcade sponge from Urban Outfitters might liven up your task a bit. 

The sponge is in the instantly recognisable shape and colour of arcade favourite Pac-Man. As it says on the packaging, use it to munch your way through the dirty dishes. 

If you're feeling creative, you could get cutting at your own sponges and recreate the look. For those who prefer someone else to do the dirty work, it costs £6.

Buy it online

Categories / Film and TV, Toys and Games

Mattel launches Barbie Mad Men collector’s dolls

Madmen

Not content with taking on the 1980s, Mattel's Barbie range is now taking aim at the 1960s with the Barbie Mad Men collector's dolls.

Yes, we're going back to 1963 with the cult TV show and key characters from the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency – creative director Don Draper, his wife Betty Draper, Sterling Cooper partner Roger Sterling and office manager Joan Holloway. All, of course, come with the fashion and accessories of the day, with the dolls made of 'Silkstone', a porcelain-like material.

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