Toys
1940s Swiss Vintage Toys
Aluminum, Metal
1920s French Folk Art Vintage Toys
Tin
1930s Folk Art Vintage Toys
Tin
1890s American Victorian Antique Toys
Wood
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Toys
Ceramic, Fabric
1910s Late Victorian Vintage Toys
Ceramic, Fabric, Hardwood
Early 20th Century English Toys
Lead
Early 2000s American Folk Art Toys
Aluminum
Early 20th Century Folk Art Toys
Ceramic, Wool, Cotton
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Toys
Metal, Tin
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Toys
Ceramic
Early 20th Century Folk Art Toys
Fabric
1910s English Folk Art Vintage Toys
Tin
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.