Roasty Toasty
Antique 1890s American Victorian Toys
Iron
People Also Browsed
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Toys and Dolls
Metal
Vintage 1950s Antiquities
Metal
Antique Early 1900s American Rustic Toys and Dolls
Iron
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century European Art Deco Jars
Porcelain
Antique Mid-19th Century French Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1930s English Toys
Silk, Pine
Antique Mid-19th Century French Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Fabric, Wood
2010s American Prints
Paper
Vintage 1960s American Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Aluminum, Iron, Tin
Vintage 1930s Dutch Industrial Apothecary Cabinets
Oak
Mid-20th Century Dutch Industrial Apothecary Cabinets
Beech
Antique Late 19th Century Belgian Art Nouveau Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Figurative Sculptures
Wood
Antique 1890s American Folk Art Toys
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Mantel Clocks
Metal
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.