Rudolstädter Steinbaukasten thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at Young V&A
Play Gallery, Build It, Case 3

This object consists of 64 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Rudolstädter Steinbaukasten

Building Block
1897-1910 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

1. Box lid, sliding type with a raised edge along one long side. Both sides have been covered with chromolithographed labels. The underside is marked 'COPYRIGHT' and shows the storage arrangement for the blocks in the box. It is printed in cream, black, red-brown and blue. The top left corner and side have been torn away, also the top right corner. The label on the front shows six buildings, building blocks and scrolls. The titles are in German, English and French.

2. box base; plain wood; there is the remains of a label on one side.

Pieces of reconstituted stone in various shapes, sizes and colours; most bear some form of pattern on at least one side rather than being completely flat-sided:
3-6. four red rectangles with raised top edges with 'diamond' pattern across. One has a damaged underside.
7-11. four white cubes with a raised top edges with 'diamond' pattern.
12, 13. two red cubes with raised top edges with 'diamond' pattern.
14. a white cylindrical pillar.
15-19. four red rectangles, plain.
20, 21. two blue pyramids.
22-25. four white rectangles, plain (24 and 25 have been broken and glued)
26. a white rectangle with a raised top edge with a 'diamond' pattern.
27-32. six blue triangles.
33-39. seven red squares.
40-43. Four white squares.
44. A white rectangle, top edge damaged.
45. A white cube, top edge damaged.
46, 47. Two red rectangles with raised top edges with 'diamond' pattern.
48, 49. Two white rectangles with raised top edges with 'diamond' pattern.
50. A white column with raised lines on top edge.
51. A white cube with floral pattern on top edge.
52, 53. Two blue semi-circles with pattern on top edge.
54, 55. Two red arches with floral pattern on top edge.
56-59. Four white pediments with triangular pattern on top edge.
60, 61. Two white rectangles, plain.
62, 63. Two red arches with lined pattern on top edge.
64. A white arch with lined pattern on top edge.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 64 parts.

  • Lid
  • Box
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
  • Building Block
Titles
  • Rudolstädter Steinbaukasten (manufacturer's title)
  • Stone Building Box (alternative title)
  • Boite de Construction (alternative title)
Materials and techniques
reconstituted stone; in white, red and blue
Brief description
Building Blocks; German; after 1897-1910
Physical description
1. Box lid, sliding type with a raised edge along one long side. Both sides have been covered with chromolithographed labels. The underside is marked 'COPYRIGHT' and shows the storage arrangement for the blocks in the box. It is printed in cream, black, red-brown and blue. The top left corner and side have been torn away, also the top right corner. The label on the front shows six buildings, building blocks and scrolls. The titles are in German, English and French.

2. box base; plain wood; there is the remains of a label on one side.

Pieces of reconstituted stone in various shapes, sizes and colours; most bear some form of pattern on at least one side rather than being completely flat-sided:
3-6. four red rectangles with raised top edges with 'diamond' pattern across. One has a damaged underside.
7-11. four white cubes with a raised top edges with 'diamond' pattern.
12, 13. two red cubes with raised top edges with 'diamond' pattern.
14. a white cylindrical pillar.
15-19. four red rectangles, plain.
20, 21. two blue pyramids.
22-25. four white rectangles, plain (24 and 25 have been broken and glued)
26. a white rectangle with a raised top edge with a 'diamond' pattern.
27-32. six blue triangles.
33-39. seven red squares.
40-43. Four white squares.
44. A white rectangle, top edge damaged.
45. A white cube, top edge damaged.
46, 47. Two red rectangles with raised top edges with 'diamond' pattern.
48, 49. Two white rectangles with raised top edges with 'diamond' pattern.
50. A white column with raised lines on top edge.
51. A white cube with floral pattern on top edge.
52, 53. Two blue semi-circles with pattern on top edge.
54, 55. Two red arches with floral pattern on top edge.
56-59. Four white pediments with triangular pattern on top edge.
60, 61. Two white rectangles, plain.
62, 63. Two red arches with lined pattern on top edge.
64. A white arch with lined pattern on top edge.
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'RUDOLSTADTER STEINBAUKASTEN' (Printed on the label)
    Translation
    Rudolstadt Stone Set
  • 'STONE BUILDING BOX' (Title in English, printed on the label)
  • 'BOITE DE CONSTRUCTION' (Title in French, printed on the label)
    Translation
    Construction box
  • 'MADE IN GERMANY' (Printed on the label)
  • 'SILBERNE MEDAILLE LEIPZIG 1897' (Printed on bottom edge of label)
    Translation
    Silver medal Leipzig 1897
  • 'FIRST PRICE LONDON 1891' (Printed on the label [price should read Prize])
  • 'K QUARCK 987' (It is possible that the name is 'Quarek')
  • 'ecorirt' (Printed on label on box base, possibly meant to be 'decorit')
Production
There is doubt as to whether the set is by Richter as many others were made in imitation. Although Richter did use the title 'Steinbaukasten' it usually had 'ANKER' in front and there are none of the normal trademarks, anchors or squirrels on the box. Likewise although the blocks superfically look the same, unlike Richter the patterning of many is very decorative.

The manufacturer may have been Gebr. Keller of Rudolstadt which used 'RUDOLSTADTER STEINBAUKASTEN' in its address. Gebrüder Keller was set up in 1886 by Paul and Georg Keller, former employees of Richter.
Subject depicted
Collection
Accession number
B.133:1 to 64-1995

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Record createdApril 18, 2000
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