Hanno the Gorilla

Brave, strong and curious - Hanno the Gorilla was named after Hanno the Greek sailor who, according to legend, discovered gorillas 2,500 years ago. The amazingly realistic wooden model of the human ape is a faithful companion for all - made by Parsons-grad artist David Weeks. He is flexible as he is held together with rubber bands, but can resist any accident. Hanno is not just for play or decoration - he’s meant for generation to generation to think about gorillas and their magical place on earth.

Meet the designer

David Weeks was born in Madison, Wisconsin, raised in Athens, Georgia, and educated in Providence, where he received his BFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design. Weeks founded his namesake studio in DUMBO in 1996 as an umbrella for his diverse interests, ranging from metal fabrication techniques to contemporary toy culture. Brooklyn’s unique amalgam of the industrial and the artisanal informed Weeks’ sensibility, and his work in turn helped define the independent design movement that took root there: one that championed the maker and whetted contemporary styling and old-school craftsmanship.

Over the past two decades, his product line has evolved from a core grouping of elemental lighting fixtures to a broader collection of upholstered seating, side tables, and sculptural objects with a simpatico sense of materiality and detailing. 

Toy dimensions:  9"L x  6"W x  12"H 

Box dimensions: L x W x H