Toys
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Toys
Oak, Walnut, Maple, Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Toys
Wood, Hardwood, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Toys
Hardwood, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Toys
Hardwood, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Toys
Hardwood, Walnut
1930s British Folk Art Vintage Toys
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Toys
Ceramic
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Toys
Hardwood, Elm, Oak
1950s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys
Metal
19th Century French Antique Toys
Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys
Wool, Linen, Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Toys
Ceramic
1960s German Vintage Toys
Mohair, Wool
Early 1900s German Baroque Antique Toys
Quartz
Early 20th Century French Rustic Toys
Wood
Early 20th Century German Victorian Toys
Terracotta
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys
Bamboo, Cane, Rattan
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.