Patrick Rylands’ classic duck and fish toys make a splash again

Toy company Galt Toys has reintroduced the Ambi bird and fish bath toys, originally designed by Patrick Rylands in 1969.

The toys are of a “simple, smooth” shape, says Galt Toys, which aim to be “comforting and tactile” and “attractive to both adults and children”.

The bath toy animals only have eyes, and include internal ballasts that keep them upright when in water. Their shapes are inspired by bone carvings taken from the British Museum.

The toys are on permanent display at the V&A Museum of Childhood.

John McDonnell, Managing Director at Galt Toys, says: “The Ambi Toys range is the life work of one of the UK’s most talented toy designers, whose beautiful Bird and Fish bath toys have delighted children at bath time for generations.”

Galt Toys is also set to reintroduce five new Ambi toys this year, which will be based on the design of Rylands’ original Bird and Fish.

The Ambi Bird and Fish Bath Toys are suitable for children from 18 months and available to buy at £9.99 from Galt Toys website.

Patrick Rylands trained in ceramics at the Royal College of Art, before going on to design plastic toys for several toy companies include Ambi, Trendon and Brio. He won the Prince Philip Designers Prize in 1970 for a group of toys including the Ambi fish design.