Toys
1960s German Vintage Toys
Tin
1950s Russian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys
Metal
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Toys
Tin
Late 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Toys
Wood
Late 19th Century French Late Victorian Antique Toys
Brass, Steel
1910s German Folk Art Vintage Toys
Tin
1950s German Other Vintage Toys
Metal
1890s English Folk Art Antique Toys
Wood
1920s German Folk Art Vintage Toys
Cotton, Pine
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Toys
Chrome
1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Toys
Metal
Early 20th Century American Toys
Leather, Wood, Paint
1940s British Folk Art Vintage Toys
Wood
1940s English Vintage Toys
Brass
1930s British Folk Art Vintage Toys
Wood
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Toys
Iron
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys
Hardwood
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Toys
Metal
Early 1900s Swedish Arts and Crafts Antique Toys
Birch
Mid-20th Century French Toys
Metal
1950s American Vintage Toys
Wood
Early 20th Century European Toys
Metal
Early 19th Century British Antique Toys
Leather, Wood
1930s American Adirondack Vintage Toys
Wood, Paint
1910s English Folk Art Vintage Toys
Tin
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Folk Art Toys
Wood, Paint
20th Century American Country Toys
Paint, Wood
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Toys
Composition
1910s German Folk Art Vintage Toys
Wood
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Toys
Metal
Early 19th Century Swedish Restauration Antique Toys
Pine
Early 20th Century English Toys
19th Century Folk Art Antique Toys
Wire
Early 19th Century French Folk Art Antique Toys
Wood
Early 20th Century French Toys
Wood
19th Century French Antique Toys
Iron
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Toys
Wood
19th Century Belgian Antique Toys
Wood
1960s American Vintage Toys
Metal
1910s American Adirondack Vintage Toys
Iron
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.