Sandwich Friends thumbnail 1
Sandwich Friends thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Sandwich Friends

Soft Toy
2021 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

'Peanut butter is soft and Jelly is sweet - and they're best friends. Together they taste great! I told them to be careful and kind, and to always take care of each other'
- Audrey, aged 9, who designed this toy with IKEA


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Soft Toy
  • Soft Toy
Titles
  • Sandwich Friends (assigned by artist)
  • SAGOSKATT (series title)
Materials and techniques
Machine-stitched polyester fabric, polyester wadding
Brief description
SAGOSKATT soft toy, Sandwich Friends, designed by Audrey (aged 9) for IKEA, Canada/Sweden, 2021
Physical description
Pair of soft toys based on a child's drawing, representing anthropomorphic slices of white bread, each made entirely from different weaves of polyester. They are both very similar to one another with the exception that one has a yellowy front, representing peanut butter, and the other a pink front, representing jam. Each has a face consisting of black eyes and mouth, with red tongues, two legs, and two arms tipped with velcro pads, allowing them to be stuck to one another.
Dimensions
  • Height: 200mm
  • Width: 360mm (both parts holding hands)
  • Depth: 45mm
Production typeMass produced
Credit line
Given by IKEA UK and Ireland
Historical context
IKEA was founded in Sweden in 1943 by then-17-year-old Ingvar Kamprad (1926-2018). The name is an acronym of the founder’s initials, plus the first letters of the names of the family farm where he was born, Elmtaryd, and the village of Agunnaryd, where he grew up. The company is best-known for its flat-pack furniture and other homeware. From 2008, it was the world’s largest furniture retailer. IKEA is known for its simple, modernist designs, attention to cost control, and continuous product development.

IKEA considers the child’s right to play as a core value. In order to promote the best interests of children, by 2030 the company aims to integrate children’s perspectives into all its business activities. From 2015, the company held an annual competition inviting children to submit drawings to be made into soft toys. The ‘SAGOSKATT’ toys were then sold at low prices, with the full amount from each sale donated to a local charity. In 2021 in the UK, IKEA’s official charity partner was Barnardo’s. The finished products in each edition notable for their faithfulness to the original drawings.

66,259 drawings were submitted for the 2021 edition of SAGOSKATT, with five being selected for production. The range was made available for retail in October 2021.
Subject depicted
Summary
'Peanut butter is soft and Jelly is sweet - and they're best friends. Together they taste great! I told them to be careful and kind, and to always take care of each other'
- Audrey, aged 9, who designed this toy with IKEA
Other number
805.181.45 - product number
Collection
Accession number
B.12-2022

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Record createdDecember 16, 2021
Record URL
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