Velvet Toys

Highly colorful and completely operational hard to find LARGE tin child's toy spinning top made by the J. Chein Company, Harrison, New Jersey, Circa 1950. It works great and is in co...

Toy Noah’s Arks for children to play with were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th century, and Germany was very prolific in their production. This particular ark is all ori...

This Marx Toys Wind up Chariot and Horses is a vintage mechanical toy representing a red chariot dragged by two painted tin horses. Original...

Fabulous and classic cast iron toy from the early thirties. In what looks like to the original Red with Nickel Wheels and the right amount of wear to th...

Here is an exceptional piece, fresh from a vintage estate. This beautiful antique Native American doll has incredible presence and a fan...

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...

A solid Swedish wooden toy horse in original grey paint with remnants of leather bridle and jute mane and tail.

Early 19th C cast iron miniature farm house. Rust surface patina. From New England.

"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...

An exquisite continental foal baby horse from the early 20th century mounted on iron base. This joyful foal is caught in mid leap as it’s possibly just lear...

In near mint and all original condition this vintage mechanical bank appeals to both sailing enthusiasts and bank collectors; perhaps a collector of "cat" memorabelia as well. The theme depicts two sailors riding their boat in full sail. It is quite substantial in both size and weight. To operate, (with the lever pushed all the way in from the left); place a coin vertically above the left arm of the sailor in red; from the right; push the lever all the way in. The sail and Boom hits the sailor, knocking him over as the coin drops into the bank. The other sailor moves forward while manning the tiller. The bank is named "Cat Boat...

"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...