Author: Adéla Čuříková
After the end of the successful Retrogaming exhibition, the Museum of the Wallachia region prepared another attractive retro exhibition at Vsetín Castle, which this time will introduce you to the world of the legendary toys of the Fatra Napajedla company. On display is the best from the mid-20th century to the present day. It includes a playroom for children and a competition for the best photos from the family archives.
The beginnings of toy production at the Fatra company date back to the mid-1930s. The golden era came in the 1960s and 1980s, when local lines churned out inflatable sitting animals that found a place in almost every Czechoslovak household. The court designer of many products at the time was the icon of Czech design, Libuše Niklová, whose accordion toys traveled all over the world. A successful period was followed by a longer hiatus. But in 2010, Fatra resumed the production of toys and continued cooperation with top designers.
The Fenomén Fatra exhibition at Vsetín Castle presents to visitors inflatable, rubber and plastic toys produced in Napajedlí from the mid-20th century to the present day. “Among them are true uniques, of which only a few specimens have been preserved in public or private collections. Among the most interesting of all are the oldest rubber toys and exhibits from the exclusive Jules Verne collection, intended for Expo ’67 in Montreal. The exhibition also includes informative panels with photographs and an interesting video presentation. For the little ones, the main attraction is the playroom with Czechoslovak retro toys,” stated exhibition curator Olga Méhešová from the Museum of the Wallachia Region.
A traveling exhibition from the workshop of the Inspirace Zlín association will be on display at Vsetín Castle until August 25. The Museum of the Wallachia region also involved the public in the creation of its content. “If you have a photo in the family archive that shows a toy from Fatra Napajedla, send it to us in electronic form at [email protected]. The competition runs until August 20. We will continuously exhibit your pictures in a special section of the exhibition, and I will reward the three best with a free ticket to the museum.” said Méhešová.
At the Vsetín Castle, you can currently see another interesting exhibition, the Centennial Museum, which shows the transformations of the museum during the 100 years of its existence so far. You can find more details at www.muzeumvalassko.cz or on Facebook and Instagram @muzeumregionuvalassko.
Jiří Koňarík
Promotional worker of the Museum of the Wallachia region
tel. 571 411 690 | 605 509 928
www.muzeumvalassko.cz | @muzeumregionuvalassko
