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Toys For Sale
Antique Swan swing set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautifully timeworn children’s ride-on toy crafted in the evocative shape of a swan, likely dating back to the early to mid-20th century. With layers of cracked white paint reveal...
Category
Early 20th Century French Toys
Materials
Steel
East German Yellow Vinyl Giraffe Vintage Toy Classic, 1960s, GDR
Located in Andernach, DE
Wonderfully hand crafted East German vintage toy – a true classic.
These were made from soft vinyl sheets and softly stuffed. here in a lovely yellow, off-white and red combination.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Toys
Materials
Plastic
Antique balance toy Galloping Cowboy Moving , handpainted forged iron, 19th C.
Located in Bilzen, BE
An antique balance toy showing a cowboy on it's horse
when it balance is the head and tale of the horse moving like also the cowboy
This is totale han...
Category
Late 19th Century Folk Art Antique Toys
Materials
Wrought Iron
1915 B&R Co. Charlie Chaplin Tin Litho Wind-Up Figure Toy
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early tin windup Charlie Chaplin, with cast iron shoes. Vintage collectable for the toy enthusiast.
Tin-litho, or tin-lithography, is a manufacturing process where designs and imag...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Toys
Materials
Metal, Tin
"William Tell" Mechanical Toy Savings Bank. American, Circa 1896 (All Original)
Located in Incline Village, NV
"William Tell" mechanical bank was patented and manufactured in 1896 by the J. & E. Steven's Company in Cromwell, Connecticut (please see image of the underneath with patent informat...
Category
1890s American Folk Art Antique Toys
Materials
Iron
Collection of Seven 19thc Miniature Irons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fun collection of 19thc cast iron irons are most unusual and very hard to find. These irons were probably like salesman samples or children's.
largest miniature sat iron measur...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Adirondack Antique Toys
Materials
Iron
$1,036 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Set of 3 Small Elemental Spinning Tops in Oiled Walnut by Alvaro Uribe for Wooda
By Wooda, Alvaro Uribe
Located in Omro, WI
The initial inspiration for the elemental top collection by Alvaro Uribe for Wooda was wooda’s iconic logo of a tree. We felt it captured the company’s synergy for working with wood ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Toys
Materials
Wood, Hardwood, Walnut
Early 20th C. Cast Iron Miniature Farm House
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 19th C cast iron miniature farm house. Rust surface patina. From New England.
Category
Early 20th Century American Adirondack Toys
Materials
Iron
$956 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Original Painted Iron Clown Bank
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fun and folky original painted iron penny bank has the original painted surface in working condition. Put a penny in his hand and pull the lever for him to swallow the coin. The small tin...
Category
1890s American Country Antique Toys
Materials
Iron
$1,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Wooden Indian Toy Horse on Wheels
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage wooden Indian toy horse on wheels, circa 1970s. The piece has a latch in the front that allows you to rotate the top portion open to a hidden sto...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Toys
Materials
Metal
Rare Vintage "Rolly Dolly" Musical Toy; Germany, Circa 1895
Located in Incline Village, NV
Vintage and rare "Rolly Dolly" Musical Toy by unknown German manufacturer; circa 1895; contemporaneous with early Schoenhut toys, it depicts a "Well Dres...
Category
1890s German Folk Art Antique Toys
Materials
Composition
Wagen Bed in Fiberglass and Palisander Wood Veneer
Located in Paris, FR
Bed Wagen for children room.
Made with fiberglass with outside with chrome-plated finishes.
With palisander wood veneer inside and withseveral storage
compartments for a bed, a tv, ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Toys
Materials
Chrome
$104,679 Sale Price
20% Off
Small Agua Elemental Spinning Top in Oiled Walnut by Alvaro Uribe for Wooda
By Wooda, Alvaro Uribe
Located in Omro, WI
The initial inspiration for the elemental top collection by Alvaro Uribe for Wooda was wooda’s iconic logo of a tree. We felt it captured the company’s synergy for working with wood ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Toys
Materials
Hardwood, Walnut
Collection of 3 Italian 19th Century Marionettes
Located in London, GB
Collection of 3 Italian 19th century Marionettes
A fantastic set of 3 19th century hand crafted marionette puppets. All with original cotton, silk and valour clothing intact, han...
Category
19th Century Italian Early Victorian Antique Toys
Materials
Pine
Unmarked Small Four Passenger Hand Crank Driven Wind Up Ferris Wheel Circa 1935
Located in Incline Village, NV
Cute, small and vintage 1930's ferris wheel, crank driven, and all original children's tin toy. There are four children riders, each in a separate carriage. To operate: hold the toy ...
Category
1930s Unknown Folk Art Vintage Toys
Materials
Tin
19th Century Folk-Art Hand-Crafted Bedpost Doll Figure
Located in London, GB
19th century folk-art hand-crafted bedpost doll figure
A rare and highly artistic example of an English 19th century folk art bedpost doll figure. With hand carved detail including ...
Category
1880s British Folk Art Antique Toys
Materials
Wood
Pair Scottie Dogs Atop Book Theme Japanese Puzzle Bank Occupied Japan Circa 1948
Located in Incline Village, NV
Quite an unusual piece for bank collectors or just for those seeking a unique collectible. This is a coin bank made of all wood; walnut and inlay here and there; simulating a stack and shelf of books; a pair of "Scottie dogs" (terriers) on top of the bank completes the decoration. The slot on top of the bank accommodates the saving of coins. When it is full; the method of opening the bank to remove the coins, exemplifies the ultimate in Japanese ingenuity.
A video attached to the listing displays the foregoing.
With the books facing you; slide the two front bottom panels to the left; slide the bottom right panel forward (tilt forward) exposing the opening; slide out the enclosed loose key; push everything back; slide left half of front panel to the left; the middle book drops down exposing the key hole; insert and turn the key to the right to open; lift the hinged lid; remove coins and reverse the process to start over again. Fantastic item!!!
This bank was made in Japan, right after World War ll, during the occupation, around 1948. It is a further manifestation of a mid to early 19th century tradition of hiding documents and money in boxes with "tricks" and a multiplicity of "moves" to unlock a box or trunk.
With these banks, it is all about condition and completeness, considering the rough play and use it was subject to from trying to figure out how to open it. This particular bank is in excellent and all original, complete condition with no repairs and no replacements, and is from my own personal collection of banks; having been in my possession since 1985. Worth noting is that this example was featured in "Antiquing and Collecting" magazine September 2003 edition in an article on Japanese Puzzle...
Category
1940s Japanese Folk Art Vintage Toys
Materials
Wood
"Cat With A Bow Seated" Still Bank, American, circa 1970
Located in Incline Village, NV
"Cat With A Bow Seated" cast iron still bank is a re-issue of a bank by the same name and same casting made in the early 1900s by the Grey Iron C...
Category
1970s American Folk Art Vintage Toys
Materials
Iron
Japanese Daruma Doll HIMEDARUMA Yuhime-ningyo Ehime 1990s
Located in Paris, FR
This is a doll which is called Yuhime-Ningyo.
These dolls are made in Matsuyama, Ehime prefecture.
The kimono which the doll is wearing is made with silk.
We say that these dolls ar...
Category
1990s Japanese Showa Toys
Materials
Porcelain, Silk, Plastic
Set of 5 Swedish Folk Wooden Dala Horse Toys, circa 1960
By Nils Olsson
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of 5 handpainted Swedish wooden traditional Dala horse toy.
Designed by Nils Olsson in Sweden, circa 1960.
Materials:
Wood
In original condition, with...
Category
1960s Swedish Folk Art Vintage Toys
Materials
Wood
"OO-LA-LA!!" Vintage Wind-Up "Crazy Car" by The Louis Marx Toy Co. N.Y.C Ca 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
Fabulous addition to the "crazy car" examples made famous by the iconic and "Louis Marx Toy Company" manufacturers of fine quality toys and established in New York City in 1919. This...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Toys
Materials
Tin
Art Deco Miniature Furniture Set Painted in Yellow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lovely Art Deco miniature yellow painted wood lounge chair and side table furniture set. The chairs are 5.75 x 6.25 x 6.5, table is 4.375 x 3.75 x 3.5. In lovely original condition w...
Category
1930s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Toys
Materials
Wood
Japanese Aging Toy Soccer Ball/ Object / 1970-1990s / Wabi-sabi Mingei
Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
This is an old toy soccer ball.
Over the years, the outer material has peeled off, exposing the inner material. The appearance, which has changed naturally over time, has a beauty th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Folk Art Toys
Materials
Other
1929 Ford Trimotor Texaco Airplane
Located in Pasadena, TX
The 1929 Ford Trimotor Texaco Airplane is a highly detailed die-cast collectible model that pays tribute to the iconic aircraft from early American aviation history. Featuring the au...
Category
20th Century Toys
Materials
Plastic
Set of Two Vintage Christmas Small Nutcrackers, Wood, Erzgebirge, Germany, 1970
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Wooden nutcrackers figure from the Erzgebirge. The region Erzgebirge formerly Eastern Germany is famous for this special kind of nutcrackers, where intricate carving has been their h...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Toys
Materials
Wood
$79 Sale Price / set
25% Off
Vintage Toy, Schuco Patent 1001 Car, Made in Germany, 1940s
Located in Roma, IT
This Schuco Patent 1001 car is a vintage mechanical toy made by Schuco Patent in Germany in 1940s.
The car model is made in U.S.
Not perfec...
Category
Early 20th Century German Toys
Materials
Metal
German Pull Toy Dog, Turning Head, Steiff or Thuringian Workshop, C. 1900 - 1915
By Steiff
Located in Atlanta, GA
A rare and finely constructed early 20th-century German pull toy dog, attributed to the Steiff company or a Thuringian workshop operating in the Steiff tradition, circa 1900–1915. Th...
Category
Early 20th Century German Toys
Materials
Fabric, Wool, Glass, Wood
$780 Sale Price / item
20% Off
"Billiken" Cast Iron Still Bank, American, Circa 1909
Located in Incline Village, NV
Original "Billiken" cast iron still bank patented in 1908 by Florence Pretz (patent number on the back in raised letters "NO39BO3". It was manufa...
Category
Early 1900s American Folk Art Antique Toys
Materials
Iron
Vintage Christmas Nutcracker Wood, Erzgebirge, Germany, 1970s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Big wooden nutcracker figure from the Erzgebirge. The region Erzgebirge formerly Eastern Germany is famous for this special kind of nutcrackers, where intricate carving has been thei...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Toys
Materials
Wood
$267 Sale Price
25% Off
Vintage wooden toy Pinocchio, Italy, 1960s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Amazing jointed wooden doll, hand painted Pinocchio, made in Italy in the 1960s.
Good vintage condition.
Dimensions:
Width: 9 cm / 3.54 inches
Height: 32 cm / 12.6 inches
Depth: 9 ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Toys
Materials
Wood
Antique 1860 Childrens Tricycle Horse Glass Eyes Wood Metal Fabric
Located in Munich, DE
This children's tricycle has seen its best days a long time ago, however, it has retained all its charm and magic. The face, the handles and the wheels are made out of rusty metal. T...
Category
1860s French Belle Époque Antique Toys
Materials
Iron
Swedish Wooden Toy Horse Rocker
Located in Charleston, SC
A charming handmade wooden toy horse rocker.
Very sturdy for children.
Sweden, circa 1900
Surprising pieces and objects, authentic, decorative and rare...
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Toys
Materials
Pine, Paint
$1,050 Sale Price
30% Off
Vintage Wind Up Small Car Toy, Made in Germany, 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
This wind up small car is a mechanical vintage toy.
Very small nice car beautifully detailed and with his perfectly working clockwork.
Made in Germany....
Category
Mid-20th Century German Toys
Materials
Metal
$183 Sale Price
30% Off
1940s Coney Island Amusement Park Kiddie Car Fire Engine in Original Condition
By Pinto Brothers Mfg.
Located in Savannah, GA
Produced by Pinto Bros Mfg of Coney Island, New York, this all-original 1940s firetruck was part of a circular ride at the famed Coney Island Amusement Park. Featuring lucky Number 4...
Category
1940s American Industrial Vintage Toys
Materials
Metal
$975 Sale Price
50% Off
Harmonica M.Hohner Super chromonica model
Located in Saint ouen, FR
Harmonica M.Hohner
Super chromonica model
Chromatic harmonica
piston harmonica
Near mint condition
L 15,5 x P 3,5 x h 2,5 cms
1943
With original box in perfect condition
Perfe...
Category
1940s Vintage Toys
Materials
Steel
Set of Eight Folk Art Carnival Punks / Knockdown Dolls
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Folk Art carnival punks / knockdown dolls composed of canvas forms lined with cotton fur supported by carved wood bases for added stability / weight, c...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Toys
Materials
Canvas, Cotton, Wood
Mexican Wood Toy Day of the Dead Skulls Folk Art Handmade Artisanal Mechanic
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
Discover the charm of traditional Mexican folk art with this handcrafted wooden “Day of the Dead Calaveritas” toy, created by master artisans Sanjuana España Rodríguez and Guillermo ...
Category
2010s Mexican Folk Art Toys
Materials
Acrylic, Wood
$480 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Steiff Bear
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original German made Steiff Bear with glass eyes. The original tag is in place and in tact. Steiff is know for well made Toy bears that are jointed and hav...
Category
1930s American Adirondack Vintage Toys
Materials
Cotton, Glass
$556 Sale Price
20% Off
Articulated Cyclist Toy – Belgian Folk Art, Early 20th Century
Located in Bilzen, BE
"Articulated Cyclist Toy – Belgian Folk Art, Early 20th Century"
Early 20th Century Belgian Folk Art Articulated Cyclist Toy
Handcrafted Solid Wood — Rare Colonial-Era Subject — Mechanically Designed Pedaling Motion (Belt Missing)
Description
A rare and remarkable early 20th-century Belgian folk art toy, hand-carved entirely from solid wood, depicting a stylized Black cyclist mounted on a painted green bicycle. The figure is fully articulated and was originally designed with a mechanical belt-drive system (now absent) connecting the foot pedals to the rear wheel. When pushed forward, the toy was engineered to simulate a realistic cycling motion, animating the rider's legs in tandem with the rotation of the wheels.
Materials & Construction
Primary material: Solid wood (no plywood or laminates)
Figure & Bicycle: Fully carved, hand-painted in polychrome (green, red, black, ochre)
Mechanical features:
Jointed limbs designed to move with crankshaft motion
Metal-spoked wheels on rotating axles
Pulley attachment points for original belt-drive (belt now missing)
Dimensions:
Length: 53 cm
Height: 42 cm
Condition: Structurally intact; expected surface wear and patina consistent with age; belt mechanism missing but all original pulley points and joints remain.
Iconography & Cultural Context
The cyclist is depicted as a Black male figure in a red cap and outlined uniform, rendered in a simplified, expressive style typical of early folk toys. The toy likely reflects Belgium's colonial presence in the Congo during the early 20th century (Congo Free State until 1908, Belgian Congo from 1908–1960). Such depictions were common in Belgian visual culture of the time, often appearing in children's media, toys, and public exhibitions.
This toy offers not only mechanical charm but also serves as a historical document, reflecting period attitudes and visual language. It holds curatorial interest for ethnographic, toy history, and colonial-era cultural studies.
Dating & Attribution
Date: Circa 1900–1930
Origin: Likely Belgium
Style: Folk art, with vernacular mechanics and colonial subject matter
Comparison: Closely parallels German kinetic push toys...
Category
Early 20th Century Belgian Folk Art Toys
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Folk art English Articulated Toy Dog Form
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Folk art English Articulated Toy Dog Form
A very unusual and quirky example of an early 20th century English folk art articulated weighted jaw toy dog. Made from ...
Category
1920s British Folk Art Vintage Toys
Materials
Faux Leather
"Lamb" Cast Iron Still Bank, American, Circa 1970
Located in Incline Village, NV
"Lamb" cast Iron still bank is a re-issue of a bank made in 1928. It was made by The John Wright Company in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania in 1970. They...
Category
1970s American Folk Art Vintage Toys
Materials
Iron
Late 19th Century Flat Bottom Toy Noah's Ark with 34 Figures. German Circa 1880
Located in Incline Village, NV
Offered for sale is a very traditional Folk Art item; a handcrafted Noah's Ark toy with 34 hand-painted and hand-carved animals (includes Noah and Naamah). The flat bottom ark indica...
Category
1880s German Folk Art Antique Toys
Materials
Wood
Vintage Toy, Schuco Examico 4001 Car, 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
This Schuco Examico 4001 car is a wind up mechanical toy car, made between 1950s/60s.
Working stick shift and reverse.
Vintage toy made in tinplate and plastic.
Lighthly scrat...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Toys
Materials
Metal
American Cast Iron Red Bus w/Passengers by Kenton ca. 1930's
By Kenton
Located in Petaluma, CA
This wonderful bus was made by the Kenton Co. The passengers really add to the look. Generally nice condition with the tired in good order and most of all really good paint. Origina...
Category
1930s American Other Vintage Toys
Materials
Iron
Monumental 19th Century Rocking Horse with Original Paint
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This very fine country rocking horse is not only fantastic looking and all original paint it is sturdy and strong. The pony skin is worn as well as the saddle but all in tack.
Category
Late 19th Century American Adirondack Antique Toys
Materials
Wood, Leather
$2,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Richters German Anchor Blocks Building Toy
Located in Barcelona, ES
Discover a piece of history with this vintage Richters German anchor blocks building toy, also known as Der Geschickte Baumeister. Made in Rudolstadt, Germany, circa 1900, this set c...
Category
Early 1900s German Baroque Antique Toys
Materials
Quartz
$1,253 Sale Price
55% Off
1960's New Old Stock Vintage Pocket Pinball
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960's New Old Stock Vintage Pocket Pinball. We recently came across a large hoard of new old stock hardware and general merchandise items, laying untouched since the 1940's and 50's...
Category
1960s Vintage Toys
Materials
Plastic
"Uncle Wiggly" Toy Rabbit Wind Up Toy Signed "Gene Rosch" by Chein Toy Co C.1938
Located in Incline Village, NV
Dancing rabbit wind up toy, "Uncle Wiggly", was made by the Chein Toy Company, of New York City, circa 1938. It was designed, and the creation of foremost leading toy inventor Gene ...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Toys
Materials
Tin
Deco Toy Horse on Wheels
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pull toy horse in original condition, functional.
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys
Materials
Chrome
Burr 3D gemstone puzzle Angelite
Located in Pacasmayo, PE
Be inspired by this angelite puzzle: decorate, relax and play with intention.
The burr puzzle is of mysterious origin, first seen engraved on the cover of Chambers's Cyclopaedia. A ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Peruvian Toys
Materials
Stone
$189 / item
Mexican Wood Toy Colorful Wheel of Fortune Folk Art Handmade Artisanal Mechanic
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
By master artisans Sanjuana España Rodríguez and husband Guillermo Trejo Soriano (Guanajuato, México) have been known for hand crafting Mexican traditional toys. Sanjuana's late fath...
Category
2010s Mexican Folk Art Toys
Materials
Acrylic, Wood
Antique Mechanical Eagle Push Toy
Located in Savannah, GA
American carved and painted eagle push toy from the early 20th century.
Wrought iron frame mechanism in good working condition. Pushing flaps the wings in a ...
Category
20th Century Toys
Materials
Iron
19th C. Stoneware Children's Savings Pig Bank. England, Circa 1880
Located in Incline Village, NV
In the late 19th century the concept of thrift became a principle by which parents encouraged their children to safe money by putting their pennies into a "piggy bank", thus the proliferation of these items by pottery manufacturers, this particular example marked "SS" on the underneath indicating "A Smith Ltd.", Longton, England whose ceramic, china, and pottery business began in 1846 by Sampson Smith.
Nicely molded and in excellent condition, this proverbial pig themed penny bank is painted overall white with a multiplicity of green "spatter" spots, the pig standing on all fours has a twisted tail in back. The original finish is beautifully glazed resulting in a lovely patina to this completely original bank with no restoration or touch up paint of any kind and all of it's original hand paint intact.
Since these type of antique banks typically were made without a coin removal trap, the only way to extract the coins would have been the old "knife in the slot" method and retrieving the pennies one by one; or the more simpler method of smashing and breaking the bank, which is why locating these banks is very difficult, rendering a fine example particularly rare.
This example is a wonderful addition to a collection of authentic still banks, folk art, or for those who accumulate pig items. This recently came from an estate collection of pig still banks. A similar example is referenced as #633 "Two Toned Pig" in Andy Moore's "The Penny Bank Book" written in 1984 when collecting pottery banks...
Category
1880s English Folk Art Antique Toys
Materials
Stoneware
Mexican Wood Toy Colorful Wheel of Fortune Folk Art Handmade Artisanal Mechanic
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
By master artisans Sanjuana España Rodríguez and husband Guillermo Trejo Soriano (Guanajuato, México) have been known for hand crafting Mexican traditional toys. Sanjuana's late fath...
Category
2010s Mexican Folk Art Toys
Materials
Acrylic, Wood
$320 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Weathered Folk Art Miniature Shop Counter 1950s
Located in Meer, VAN
Weathered Folk Art Miniature Shop Counter, Europe, 1950s.
This miniature shop counter likely started its life as a well loved toy. Now is a very attractive decorative folk art piece...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Folk Art Toys
Materials
Wood
19th Century Belgium Biblioquet, Child's Toy
Located in Houston, TX
19th century Belgium hand-carved child's toy. the wooden ball is attached to the base with a woven string. The child would toss the ball off the base and try to catch it back on the ...
Category
19th Century Belgian Antique Toys
Materials
Wood
$1,750 / set
Vintage Model Wood House
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Vintage model wood house featuring front portico and door with many windows and four dormers. House has interior bulb that functions to light interior a...
Category
20th Century American American Classical Toys
Materials
Wood
Two Chein Wind-Up Toys "Dancing Bear" and "Dancing Pig"; American Circa 1938
Located in Incline Village, NV
"Dancing Bear" and "Dancing Pig" wind up toys were made by the Chein Toy Company, of New York City, circa 1938, about the same time as "Dancing Rabbit" (a...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Toys
Materials
Tin
1980s, Recreational Machine Model Pinball Trailer Playmatic
Located in Marbella, ES
1980s Recreational machine model pinball trailer playmatic.
Category
Late 20th Century Spanish Toys
Materials
Iron
Minnie Mouse Urban Minerva By Bosa, Elena Salmistraro
By Bosa
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Urban Minerva designed by Elena Salmistraro for Bosa is a sculpture made of ceramic, with handmade multicolored decorations. The sculpture was born from a collaboration between Bosa ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Toys
Materials
Ceramic
Antique, New and Vintage Toys
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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