Busacca Gallery

Incredibly rare Vintage Zolo Higashi Glaser hand-painted Wood Building Toy Sculpture is an original 54-piece set, featuring hand-carved and hand-painted wooden Zolo play sculptures. This unique raw material set made its debut on the global stage in 1986, thanks to The Museum of Modern Art. Designed by Byron Glaser and Sandra Higashi, the Zoo's sensory-appealing shapes, organic construction method, and open-ended play defied age and gender stereotypes. ZoLO quickly carved a niche as diverse as the ZoLO pieces themselves. It captivated not only children but also adults, people of varying skill levels, and individuals who appreciated its inclusive nature and celebration of differences. Many sought it out for a more creative form of play and self-expression. Over two decades after its inception, ZoLO received recognition from the Toy Industry of America. It found its place in their Commemorative Book, "100 Years of the Power of Play," acknowledged for its influential role in the world of play, standing alongside some of the most well-known and beloved toys of our time. This is the original Vintage Zolo set. It comes in its original box, comes with some of its, stamps, stickers, brochures, and packing straw. Some pieces are broken and some pieces may be missing it is not a complete set. The approximate net weight is 5.8lbs, making it a truly collectible piece of art. Keywords: Vintage, Collectible, Art. It's in Poor condition some of the paint is scratched and slightly damaged. We recognized this as another example of 80s design as valid as the concepts and products being created by Ettore Sottssass and the group of Milanese artists referred to as Memphis. These were industrial designers who in essence re-invented what we considered Modern Design. The movement marked the end of the 20th century. Revered mid-century modern designer, George Nelson said in 1983, “Memphis is not in any atlas. It is a state of the soul, the soul at the end of the 20th century. If you didn’t know that the 20th century has a soul now you know.” True, Byron Glaser and Sandra Higashi, the creators of ZoLO were not among Sottssass, Matteo Thun, Peter Shire, George Sowden, Michele De Lucchi, Nathalie du Pasquier, Marco Zannini, … but their colorful, eccentric, pop, cutting edge toy emerged from the influences of that new international design called Memphis. This original ZoLO was handcrafted in 1986, hand carved and hand painted, each box was a work of art but also contained the resources for imaginative works of art. The exterior sleeve states: “Lurking within this box are 50 twisty, twirly, squiggly, wiggly, knobby, blobby, and polka-dotty handmade wooden pieces waiting to be put together. Just release your imagination, and ZoLO will go wild.” “ZoLO can be anything you want it to be. Just open your mind, feel from your heart and discover the world of ZoLO.” This, ZoLo “Designed by Raw Materials” is in excellent vintage condition for it's age. It is proto-typical.The original printed die cut cardboard sleeve still slips over the plywood box. The original makers attempted to clean up their still rough cut boxes with wood putty to mask the nails that hold the box together, note, this is original, not a repair. We count 55 pieces, including the fiber material drawstring bag which stores the smaller pieces. It was “played with” less than a hand full of times by us. The latex rubber on one piece has dried out over time, naturally and one curved connector was carefully repaired. This sculptural plaything is extraordinary, rare indeed, especially in its condition and completeness!

The Zolo toy line, created by Higashi Glaser in the 1980s, was all about creativity and imagination. The toys were essentially a set of colorful, abstract shapes and connectors made from wood and glass. Kids could let their imaginations run wild and build all sorts of unique sculptures and structures. It was like a mini architectural adventure right in your living room. The combination of wood and glass gave it a distinct look and the open-ended design allowed for endless possibilities. Imagine kids sitting on the floor, connecting these vibrant pieces together, creating everything from futuristic cities to bizarre creatures. The Zolo toy sculpture wasn't just a plaything; it was a canvas for young minds to express themselves. And the best part? Each creation was a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. No two Zolo sculptures were ever the same. It was a fantastic way for kids to explore their creativity and develop problem-solving skills while having a blast.