Hand Carved Toy Cow
Antique 1880s French Victorian Toys
Faux Fur, Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Pine
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Plywood
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Taxidermy
Animal Skin, Glass, Plaster, Feathers
Early 20th Century Unknown Industrial Toys and Dolls
Metal
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Stools
Pine
Antique 19th Century French Rustic Farm Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Copper
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Signs
Foil
Early 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Softwood
Antique Early 19th Century English Gothic Revival Historical Memorabilia
Wrought Iron
21st Century and Contemporary European Victorian Taxidermy
Animal Skin
Vintage 1970s Swedish Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Pine
Antique 19th Century Swiss Decorative Boxes
Rosewood
Vintage 1950s British Musical Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1920s British Folk Art Toys
Pine
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Recent Sales
Antique Late 19th Century German Toys
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Toys
Wood
Early 20th Century American Country Toys and Dolls
Wood
Mid-20th Century North American Folk Art Toys
Pine
Antique Early 1900s German Folk Art Toys
Pine
Antique 19th Century British Folk Art Toys
Cowhide
Vintage 1930s French Victorian Toys and Dolls
Paint, Paper
Vintage 1910s German Victorian Toys
Cotton, Faux Fur, Wood
Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Toys
Bone
Antique 1880s Inkwells
Glass, Wood
Vintage 1910s British Folk Art Toys
Wood
Antique 1890s German Folk Art Toys
Wood
Antique 1890s German Folk Art Toys
Wood
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Folk Art Toys
Bone
Vintage 1950s Swiss Folk Art Toys
Softwood
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.
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