T-lab is a collection of local Balinese artisans making these precious wooden figures. Polepole (poh-leh poh-leh) means slowly, slowly in Swahili, and this is how these whimsical miniatures are created. Handcrafted from albizia wood, a fast-growing dense white wood native to the South Pacific. Each piece is painstakingly carved and sanded to a satin finish, with no oils or lacquers, then the subtle details are hand painted. The make cherished pieces that are sturdy enough for child’s play and beautiful enough for home decor.

T-lab wooden figures are generally smaller than Holztiger, but equal in charm and craftsmanship. And they’re all approximately the same size with no attempt at real size proportion, with the penguin the same size as the polar bear, etc.