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A Bahraini toymaker is reimagining history and drawing inspiration from the kingdom’s Dilmun heritage for his newest creation.
Toyio founder Abdulla BinHindi, best known for creating the Karak Monster, is working on a brand new toy inspired by the ancient Dilmun bull head – one of the most popular artefacts of the ancient civilisation to be discovered in Bahrain.
“The project is a re-imagination of the ancient Dilmun Bull artefact, inspired by its mysterious history,” Abdulla told GulfWeekly.
The copper bull’s head artefact, displayed at the National Museum, was discovered under Barbar Temple in 1955 by Danish archaeologists. It is estimated to date back to the year 2,000 BC and research continues into the artefact, with a 2020 study suggesting that the copper used in the bull’s head is similar to the copper found in Oman.
Inspired by the concept, Abdulla has created a designer toy, adding limbs and a torso to create a unique as-yet unnamed character.
“We have several name options, some from social media comments and others drafted during the initial design planning,” he added. “We’re in the process of selecting the best one.”
Suggested names so far on social media include Bulmun and Dil-Thor.
The prototype, currently measuring 15cm in height, can be printed with any design on top, and the maker is hoping to see lots of personalisation and potential official collaborations.
“The customisation options are in your hands, as the owner of the toy,” Abdulla, who is an architect by training, added.
“We aim to provide a blank canvas for personalisation and potential official collaborations.
“I find it fascinating to create a modern-day artefact that can adapt to each person and carry its own narrative.”
While production has not been scheduled yet, Abdulla hinted that “to ensure the highest quality and meet increased demand,” the firm has decided to outsource production to external facilities they’ve partnered with, rather than hand-painting and manufacturing them solely in Bahrain like before.
In 2020, GulfWeekly reported on Abdulla realising his dream of becoming a toymaker with the launch of his 3D-printed Karak Monster – a designer toy modelled after one of the most popular caffeinated beverages in the kingdom.
Abdulla also created Hammour – his first ‘complete’ toy - a Hammour fish dressed in a fine Arabic thobe. His first collection, Tasty Terrors, was inspired by a fleeting moment of nostalgia and memories linked to specific foods growing up. Among the collection’s stars are the ‘tea-riffying’ Karak Monster, the monstrous Meeno and the bootlegging breakfast band Shak and Shuka.
However, most of the toys would take more than 24 hours to print, after which he would begin painting, with some toys taking as long as three weeks before they reach their recipients.
“Our experiences with the Karak Monster and Hammour toys have influenced the focus on quality and production processes,” he added.
“These learnings are being applied to ensure our new toy maintains a high standard like the best collectibles on the market.”
Abdulla was one of the first creatives in Bahrain to embed non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into his toys. These unique computer-generated codes are embedded into mostly digital or hybrid physical-digital assets like collectibles, enabling them to be traded and verified for authenticity.
With the new Dilmun Bull toy, Abdulla’s immediate focus is on perfecting the physical product and collaborate across the community.
“Currently, the project is focused on creating a purely physical product,” he explained. “We plan to release the toy in small batches, building an audience through vibrant collaborations and personalisation.”
For details, follow @abdulla.binhindi on Instagram.
