Design Design objects Architectmade
Duck & Duckling
Hans Bølling's teak duck and duckling, drawn after a Copenhagen policeman stopped the traffic for a family of ducks, made today by Architectmade.
- Designed by
- Hans Bølling
- Made by
- Architectmade
Pictures © Architectmade, from architectmade.com.
Why it is renowned
Wallpaper* counts the duck with its squat duckling among Hans Bølling's best-known creations, beside his dog Oscar.1 Bølling's figures sold quickly in the 1950s and 1960s, and most are made today by Architectmade.1
The story
Hans Bølling, trained in advertising and later as an architect, began by making small wooden figures as gifts for his family and friends.21 In 1959 a family of ducks walked into the rush-hour traffic in Frederiksberg, and a policeman stopped every car and pedestrian until they had crossed; the story made the papers, and Bølling drew his duck family from it.2 He won a prize for his figures and spent the money on a woodworking machine, which started production of the Duck and Duckling.2 Architectmade makes them by hand in solid teak; the duck stands 18.5 cm tall, the duckling 8.7 cm.2
Sources
- Hans Bølling discusses his playful, enduring designs, Wallpaper*. wallpaper.com, read 1 October 2026.
- Duck & Duckling, Architectmade. architectmade.com, read 1 October 2026.
Last checked 1 October 2026, against the maker's own pages.