Salesman Sample Vanity
Antique 19th Century Victorian Models and Miniatures
Mirror, Pine
People Also Browsed
Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Models and Miniatures
Oak
Early 20th Century American Cabinets
Marble
Antique 19th Century Victorian Cabinets
Hardwood, Paint, Paper
20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Decorative Boxes
Alabaster
Antique Early 1900s European Models and Miniatures
Rosewood
Antique Late 19th Century Czech Art Nouveau Jewelry Boxes
Brass
20th Century Models and Miniatures
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century English Edwardian Jewelry Boxes
Brass
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Cupboards
Wood
Antique 19th Century Victorian Toys and Dolls
Mirror, Pine
Antique Early 19th Century George III Metalwork
Copper
Antique 1890s German Art Nouveau Jewelry Boxes
Metal
Antique 19th Century French Rococo Models and Miniatures
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Models and Miniatures
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Models and Miniatures
Mirror, Wood
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Jewelry Boxes
Wood
Finding the Right toys for You
Children as well as nostalgic grown-ups are still finding pleasure in toys and objects designed specifically for playtime that are, in comparison to today’s digital device-oriented distractions, far more modest in nature. Indeed, antique, new and vintage toys of years past — handmade folk-art toys such as wooden train sets, dolls, rocking horses and more — can be enjoyed by the young and old alike. In contemporary interiors, gently aging toys are wonderfully uncomplicated decorative objects primed for display in a cabinet or other case piece.
With their romantic appeal and frequent incorporation of natural materials, some vintage toys and folk-art toys are treasured collectibles, showcasing the beauty of handmade craftsmanship. Alongside other works characterized as folk art — in this case, visual art, typically reflective of a community’s culture and usually handmade by craftspeople working within a popular tradition — handcrafted vintage toys are historical works of art worthy of any collector’s mantel. These are toys that tell a story of the time in which they were produced and the people who produced them.
Like any artifact, toys provide a window into the past. The ornamental dolls of the Victorian era, for example, produced in Germany and England, made of ceramics such as porcelain and dressed in textured fabrics, speak to the fashion of the era and will add a pop of color and a decorative flourish to the neutral corners of your home.
Mid-century modern toys are as sophisticated as the widely cherished furniture of the era. As much as they thought good design for the home should be available for all, iconic American design duo Charles and Ray Eames believed in making durable and interesting products for kids too. Today, their Eames Elephant is available from Vitra and Herman Miller, and it doesn’t even require a digital screen.
Explore a unique collection of antique and vintage toys as well as folk-art toys on 1stDibs.