A World of Play: Sophie the Giraffe of France
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 
At aMuse, we strive to find the world’s most beautiful and purposeful playthings. For the next few weeks we are taking our readers on a tour of award-winning toys from around the world.
Sophie the Giraffe, a modern-day classic, has been delighting babies world-wide for decades. Her 50th birthday was celebrated on the 25th of May with an auction benefiting children’s cancer research. Vulli Toys, her manufacturer, asked 70 prominent French artists to incorporate Sophie into a unique art piece, which was sold for the cause. Hundreds attended the event in France, and over $100,000 was generated for the organization. The images below illustrate a few of the pieces that were auctioned at the event.
To view the complete list of works incorporating Sophie the Giraffe, click here.
Sophie the Giraffe is not your average toy. She has been manufactured in France with a process that has been unchanged for over 50 years. Made from 100% natural rubber derived from the sap of the Hevea tree, she has a unique texture that engages a child’s sense of touch. She encourages the earliest gross & fine motor development because of her easy to grasp quality and light weight.
All of baby’s developing senses are engaged when interacting with Sophie. From her high-contrast brown spots to her cheery squeak, children adore her as both a teething and clutching toy. Her interesting shape makes her perfect for teething even the hardest to reach back molars. It’s no surprise that Sophie has been one of our most commonly requested specialty toy items to date. She has even earned herself a place on the aMuse Customer’s Top Toys List in 2010. Sophie is sure to delight babies for another 50 years to come.
If you love Sophie, then you’re sure to love her friends, the Gnon Teethers. All of Vulli's teethers exemplify safe and healthy teething. These playfully shaped teethers are made with the same quality and care as Sophie, and are sure to stand the test of time.
Reader Comments (5)
I do love Sophie. It reminds me of my adorable little niece because of her smile. I want a collectible item of Sophie!
Your fabric pattern is very beautiful. You have a good taste in choosing a fabric. Even though it is simple, you can transform it with elegance.
It is an interesting and informative blog post...thank you for the post...:)
WOW!! Such a nice pics collection i like it.
Thanks for sharing with us.
I want this Sophie collections it is so cute.I want to display it in my room and find a little cabinet for it's location with a window glass.