Design Times - April/May 1997

Rock on

Anyone who thinks he's seen enough folk art for a while may have another think coming. Thanks to Tim Willms of Timber Toy Furniture, rocking horses, toy chests, and related classics are custom-hand-crafted and finished to order.

Willms, a former art appraiser who resides in Chicago and Santa Fe, has had collectibles featured in venues as varied as F.A.O. Schwartz, Neiman Marcus, and the Chicago Mart Showroom of Callard & Osgood. Crafted by artisans versed in 19th-century materials and techniques, the limited-edition pieces replicate the dignified folk-art style of New Mexican furniture. The collectibles range from actual working toys for young children to statement-making accents for home and business interiors.

Timothy Willms traces Timber Toy Furniture's origins to his own childhood fascination with horses and the American West, followed by extensive research into the history of antique moving toy horses in England, Europe and America. By profession, Willms is an independent fine-art consultant and appraiser, providing advice and research on selection, sales, and valuation of fine and decorative artworks for corporate and private collections.

He began his art career in the early 80's as an intern at Sotheby's in New York and London, later earning a BFA from Syracuse and an MFA from New York University, then returning to Sotheby's in London in the late 80's for additional courses. Further schooled by the American Society of Appraisers, Willms was gallery director of the Landfall Press in Chicago until 1991.

A background in art and art appraisal has made the development of Timber Toy Furniture something more than child's play. For example, the small line includes both a traditional rocking horse and a steed with a 19th-century-style glider base. The latter features a hand-forged panel with plasma-cut, prehistoric-style drawings under the body carriage. Says Willms: "This panel has silhouette-cut images of the Santa Fe ponies' magical spirit. Strategically placed in front of a nightlight, the drawings are illuminated like mystical constellations in the western night sky." Yee-hawh. Timber Toy Furniture, 312-337-5076 or 800-741-5475.

Mary Wynn Ryan