Automaton Toys
Adorable and Therapeutic Musical Clown Automaton Figure Toy
Located in Miami, FL
A fine quality therapeutic musical automaton clown toy in wonderful vintage condition.
Features
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
$595 Sale Price
40% Off
H 13 in W 5 in D 4 in
Adorable and Therapeutic Musical Clown Automaton Figure/Toy
Located in Miami, FL
A fine quality therapeutic musical automaton clown toy in wonderful vintage condition.
Features
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Textile, Porcelain
$550 Sale Price
44% Off
H 13.5 in W 5.88 in D 5.75 in
Adorable and Therapeutic Musical Clown Automaton Figure Toy French
Located in Miami, FL
A fine quality therapeutic musical automaton clown toy in wonderful vintage working condition
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
$550 Sale Price
44% Off
H 14 in W 6 in D 4 in
19th Century French Automaton
Located in San Francisco, CA
Fabulous rare 19th century automaton. Most likely made in France at the end of the 19th century
Category
Antique 19th Century French Victorian Toys and Dolls
Materials
Porcelain
Rare 19th Century Automaton Theater
Located in Madrid, ES
This important and rare automaton theater dates from the late 19th century and features both its
Category
Antique 1890s Toys and Dolls
Materials
Fruitwood
Unusual Continental Bisque Porcelain Automaton Figure
Located in London, GB
Unusual bisque porcelain automaton figure
Continental, circa 1900
Measures: Height 57cm, width
Category
Antique Early 1900s European Toys and Dolls
Materials
Porcelain, Fabric
ANTiQUE FRENCH HAND MADE MUSICAL AUTOMATON JESTER CLOWN THAT PLAYS MUSIC & MOVES
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
musical and moving Automaton Jester clown
A very good looking and well made piece, the hand moves to put
Category
20th Century French Edwardian Toys and Dolls
Materials
Velvet
$1,492 Sale Price
20% Off
H 15.95 in W 5.52 in D 5.52 in
Recent Sales
1940s Lobster Playing Banjo Automaton
Located in Mount Penn, PA
This charismatic lobster is handmade using papier mâché, with a small toy banjo that when plugged
Category
Vintage 1940s American Folk Art Toys
19th c German Musical Automaton Toy by Zinner & Sohne Co. British Raj Theme
Located in Savannah, GA
The German manufacturer Gottlieb Zinner & Sohn produced sensational mechanical dolls and toys from
Category
Antique 1890s German British Colonial Toys and Dolls
Materials
Porcelain, Fabric, Wood
H 17 in W 15.75 in D 8.25 in
Mid-20th Century Automaton Folk-art Childs Toy
Located in London, GB
automaton toy. In its simplest form this toy is very sculptural and has lots of ages character including its
Category
Vintage 1950s British Folk Art Toys
Materials
Wood
Pair of Hand Made German Automaton Doll Figures
Located in Culver City, CA
Pair of Automaton figures, metal and paper mache with glass eyes and carved teeth.
Category
Antique 19th Century German Toys
Materials
Metal
19th Century Roullet et Decamps French Rare Oversized Automaton Cow
Located in London, GB
workshop in Paris, where he made mechanical toys. One inventor offered him the drawings of an automaton of
Category
Antique 1880s French Victorian Toys
Materials
Faux Fur, Wood, Paper
19th Century Napoleonic Prisoner of War Carved 'Spinning Jenny' Automaton.
Located in London, GB
19th Century Napoleonic Prisoner of War Carved 'Spinning Jenny' Automaton.
A rare early 19th
Category
Antique 1820s Unknown Folk Art Toys
Materials
Bone
French Walking Peacock Automaton
By Roullet & Decamps
Located in New Orleans, LA
This absolutely spellbinding peacock automaton is attributed to the French toy-making company
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Other Toys and Dolls
Materials
Paper, Feathers
French Walking Peacock Automaton
Located in New Orleans, LA
This spellbinding peacock automaton is attributed to the French toy-making company Roullet et
Category
Antique 19th Century French Other Toys and Dolls
Materials
Feathers
Unusual Automaton Music Box Ballerina
Located in Culver City, CA
Unusual automaton music box ballerina, working mechanics, articulated side to side and glowing
Category
Early 20th Century Belgian Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood, Plaster
Creepy clockwork musical automaton figure
Located in London, GB
Creepy clockwork musical automaton figure
Creepy comes to mind when you turn the clockwork
Category
Antique Early 1900s French Early Victorian Toys and Dolls
Materials
Composition
Mid-20th Century Karl Griesbaum Automaton
By Karl Griesbaum
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Mid-20th century Automaton signing bird in cage music box by Karl Griesbaum. Made in Germany
Category
Mid-20th Century German Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
19th Century French Violinist automaton with dome
Located in London, GB
19th Century French Violinist automaton with dome
This original and well-aged late 19th Century
Category
Antique 1870s French Victorian Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
Vintage Singing Bird in a Gilded Cage Automaton C.1930s
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vintage singing bird in a gilded cage automaton C.1930s
This charming little red bid sings when
Category
Early 20th Century American Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
Lambert & Jumeau French Doll Automaton "Marquesita", music and 3 movements
By Lambert et Fils
Located in Valladolid, ES
One of a kind and amazing French automaton from the prestigious house of Lambert (1858-1935) and
Category
Antique 1890s French Napoleon III Toys and Dolls
Materials
Iron
H 16.15 in W 7.09 in D 5.91 in
19th Century French Porcelain Musical Automaton Jumeau Doll with Basket
Located in Dallas, TX
This is a true treasure for seasoned doll collectors! This 19th century doll by Jumeau was crafted in France circa 1870. The doll's head and right arm are in motion when the music is...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Toys and Dolls
Materials
Fabric, Porcelain
Adorable and Therapeutic Musical Clown Automaton Figure/Toy
Located in Miami, FL
A fine quality therapeutic musical automaton clown toy in wonderful vintage condition.
Features
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
19th Century Articulated Automaton Doll
Located in London, GB
19th century articulated automaton doll
We are proud to offer a highly collectable and rare
Category
Antique 1880s British Folk Art Toys
Materials
Pine
“Ethiopian Flutist” French Musical Automaton by Gustave Vichy, circa 1870s
By Gustave Vichy
Located in Incline Village, NV
One of the more rare Automaton pieces, “Ethiopian Flutist” was manufactured circa 1870 and was a
Category
Antique 1870s French Folk Art Toys
Materials
Composition
Antique German Toy Automaton Music Box with Girls Dancing Around the Maypole
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique mechanical toy music box shows no maker's signature, but is presumed to have been made
Category
Early 20th Century German Bohemian Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
H 11.25 in W 11.75 in D 9.5 in
Antique Smoking Turkish Automaton
Located in Madrid, ES
Antique Smoking Turkish Automaton
A fascinating 20th-century automaton depicting a seated Turkish
Category
Vintage 1940s Toys and Dolls
Materials
Fruitwood
19th Century "Classroom" Automaton G.A. Schwarz, PA, circa 1880
Located in San Francisco, CA
19th century "Classroom" Automaton G.A. Schwarz, PA, circa 1880
Measures: 17" wide x 11" deep x
Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Toys and Dolls
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Tall 19th Century French Porcelain Musical Automaton Jumeau Doll
Located in Dallas, TX
Here is a treasure for doll collector! This 19th century doll by Jumeau was crafted in France, circa 1870; the doll's head and right arm are in motion when the music is been played b...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Toys and Dolls
Materials
Fabric, Porcelain
Lithographed Tinplate Automaton 'The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace'
Located in London, GB
A small and unusual lithographed tinplate automaton - 'The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham
Category
Vintage 1930s German Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
H 4 in W 8 in D 4 in
Automaton Texas Cowboy Doll Playing Drum, 1960s
Located in Retie, BE
1960s vintage automaton of a Texas cowboy doll playing drum.
Mechanical cowboy doll, moving doll
Category
Mid-20th Century European Toys and Dolls
Materials
Textile, Felt, Plastic
Vintage Sand Toy and Music Box Automaton Featuring High Wire Aerialists
Located in Chicago, IL
This is a sand-powered acrobatic automaton.
When the box is rotated and set down, the sand turns a
Category
Vintage 1950s Toys and Dolls
Materials
Glass, Cardboard
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Small Elephant Figurine by Walter Bosse Vienna Around 1950s ( marked )
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Wien, AT
Small Elephant Figurine by Walter Bosse Vienna Around 1950s ( marked )
Original condition
Category
Vintage 1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Materials
Brass
$313
H 2.37 in W 1.78 in D 2.37 in
Vibrant Motion: Kinetic Sculpture - Iron, Paint, Movement
By Alexander Calder
Located in Barcelona, ES
Vibrant Motion: Kinetic Sculpture - Iron, Paint, Movement
Manufactured in France by unknown artist, circa 1990.
In original condition with minor wear consistent of age and use, pre...
Category
1990s French Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Metal
$1,470 Sale Price
51% Off
H 13.78 in W 18.9 in D 6.7 in
Venezia Mestre Set of 2 Bookends by Morici
By Morici
Located in Milan, IT
A splendid way of adorning both a clean and minimalist or traditional bookcase, this pair of bookends is a veritable objet d'art entirely crafted and veneered by hand. Fashioned of w...
Category
2010s Italian Desk Sets
Materials
Wood
Herman Miller Eames Multicolored Dining Chair Set by Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Multicolored Eames fiberglass dining chair set by Herman Miller. Original vintage production, not new ersatz ones. Featuring a unique myriad of colors. On original steel tube H bases...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Cast Iron Book of Knowledge Mechanical Bank, Punch & Judy, 20th Century
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Hand-painted cast iron mechanical bank "Punch and Judy Bank."
A vintage book of knowledge Punch & Judy mechanical bank offers polychrome cast construction with puppet stage and figu...
Category
Early 20th Century Taiwanese Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Iron
$650
H 7 in W 4 in D 6 in
Mid-Century Fish Pendant Lamp, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Fish pendant lamp made of wicker.
A wonderfully playful design. A lamp with character, literally. The wicker body of the lamp forms a fish body with its mouth wide open. Inside is a...
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Wicker, Plastic
1960s Vintage Original Disney Snow White & Seven Dwarf Rubber Squeak Toy
By Walt Disney Productions
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage Set of Snow White and the seven Dwarf squeak rubber toy made by Ledraplastic Italy in the 1960s. These toys have a peculiar asymmetric position of the ears making it particul...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Plastic, Rubber
$560 / set
H 14.5 in W 6.25 in D 6.5 in
Zenith Console Radio Model 9-S-262
By Radiobar Corp. and Philco
Located in Fulton, CA
A Philco Model 9-S-262 console radio with multiple band dial. Circa. 1938. All electrical components and speaker intact. Beautiful dial, grill cloth and finish. Radio turns on, dial ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Musical Instruments
Materials
Walnut
Wooly Sheep Pull Putz Toy Antique German Christmas 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Antique German Putz stick-legged sheep on a wooden platform with metal wheels. It is a genuine antique German Christmas toy. As it is old, it show the expected signs of age and use. ...
Category
Antique Early 1900s German Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Composition
Italian 18th Century Hand Carved Baroque Winged Angel
Located in Buisson, FR
Wonderful Hand carved winged angel.
Italy, circa 1750-1800
Weathered small losses and old repairs.
Measurement here below inclusive the wooden base.
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Baroque Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
$837 Sale Price
49% Off
H 10.63 in W 6.3 in D 6.11 in
Venezia Rialto SC4 Box by Morici
By Morici
Located in Milan, IT
A sophisticated everyday piece to be displayed anywhere in the house, this magnificent box is exquisitely crafted, veneered, and finished by master hands. Fashioned of mahogany and l...
Category
2010s Italian Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal
Library of Antique Leatherbound Books
Located in Brønshøj, DK
This collection consists of 400 antique decorative books, mainly dating from 1850–1950, with most published before 1920. The books are bound in leather, many with fine gold leaf embo...
Category
20th Century Danish Victorian Books
Materials
Gold Leaf
Italian Bitossi Flavia Blue Ceramic Elephant
By Bitossi
Located in Stamford, CT
1995 Italian Bitossi Flavia blue ceramic elephant figurine. Blue crackle ceramic finish with green accents. Retains brand sticker and brand stamp on the underside.
Category
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
art deco 20th century design ceramic horse pink and black decoration 1950
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
French decorative art
20th century design pink and black art deco ceramic horse
Realised circa 1950
Original perfect condition
In the style of colette Gueden
Height 19 cm
Long 1...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
$843
H 7.49 in W 5.91 in D 2.76 in
Lot of Deer, Rabbit & Hunter Putz Toy Antique German Erzgebirge Christmas 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Antique German set of 14 Putz stick-legged Deers, Bunny Rabbits, Fox and a Hunter. All of them are genuine antique German Christmas nativity scene or paradise yard garden figures. As...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Composition
$490 / set
H 3.5 in W 2.75 in D 1.13 in
Schmid Walt Disney Pinocchio Music Box
By Schmid
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Schmid Walt Disney jointed Pinocchio music box that plays The Entertainer / Made in Japan circa 1990s
Dimensions when sitting: height 6 inches, depth 4 inches, width 5.5 inch...
Category
20th Century Japanese Toys and Dolls
Materials
Ceramic
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Automaton Toys For Sale on 1stDibs
At 1stDibs, there are several options of automaton toys available for sale. Each of these unique automaton toys was constructed with extraordinary care, often using fabric, ceramic and porcelain. Automaton toys have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. Automaton toys made by Folk Art designers — as well as those associated with Mid-Century Modern — are very popular at 1stDibs. There have been many well-made automaton toys over the years, but those made by Roullet & Decamps are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
Finding the Right Toys-dolls for You
Antique, new and vintage toys and dolls 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.
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. 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 and dolls 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, new and vintage toys and dolls as well as folk-art toys on 1stDibs.
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