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Toys and Dolls For Sale
Color: Brown
Color: Gray
Early 20th Century Very Rare Collection of 12 Lithograph French Game Cards
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century Rare collection of 12 Lithograph French Game Cards
We are proud to offer a very rare full set of 12 lithograph French game ca...
Category
1910s French Victorian Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Paper
"Toby" Jug Still Bank and Biscuit Tin, circa 1910
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is both a still bank and a biscuit tin. It would originally have been sold, filled with biscuits. After all of the cookies would have been consumed, the tin (rather than been thrown away) would have been used as a bank to save money. There is a slot for deposits at the back of the neck at the top (see image). Coins would have been removed by lifting or twisting the snug fitting lid. Toby is nicely hand-painted in pleasing colors of green, blue, gold, and white, with realistic flesh tones to the hands and face. The total height is 6 1/2" while the total width is 6" (includes handle). Diameter at the base is 5".
This Toby figured tin was manufactured circa 1911 by the biscuit tin company of Hudson Scott located in Carlisle, England.
It is marked at the bottom "Hudson Scott & Sons Ltd. Carlisle, England."
It has crossover appeal into three categories of collectors. It would be a welcome addition to both the still bank collector and the biscuit tin collector...
Category
1910s English Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Prototype Late 19th Century Hand Carved Toy Horse Drawn Hansom Cab, American
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is a hand carved wood prototype for a toy that would have been the model for a 19th century cast iron or tin horse drawn hansom cab. It precedes the mol...
Category
1890s American Folk Art Antique Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
Designer Toy Ocellus by Michael Lau for Crazysmiles 2000
Located in Weesp, NL
Limited edition Designer toy 0602/1000 Ocellus designed in 2000 by Michael Lau for Crazysmiles. This rare piece comes with it's original box in great condi...
Category
Early 2000s Hong Kong Toys and Dolls
Materials
Plastic, Rubber
Ko Verzuu Toy Cart for Ado Holland
By Ado Holland, Ko Verzuu
Located in Echt, NL
Wooden Ko Verzuu Toy Cart in beautiful original condition.
Manufactured by Ado Holland (Arbeid door onvolwaardigen) founded in 1925.
This Cart stil h...
Category
20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
Christie's 1910 Scratch Built Child's Pull Along Flying Scotsman Lner 4472 Train
By Christie's
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this one of a kind scratch built circa 1910 children’s pull along Flying Scotsman LNER 4472 train sold at Christies ...
Category
1910s English Edwardian Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
Uncle Sam Still Bank 'Composition, ' circa 1940
Located in Incline Village, NV
American manufacture; this colorful hand-painted still bank depicting Uncle Sam is all original with no repairs and no repaint. Fabulous crazing throughout indicative of original pai...
Category
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Composition
Kay Bojesen, Denmark, Baby Rattle in Beech, Late 20th Century
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Kay Bojesen, Denmark. Baby rattle in beech, late 20th century.
Size: Diameter 7.5 cm.
In very good condition.
Category
Late 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Beech
Kay Bojesen Beech Toy Wagon 'a Family Trip', 1950s, Denmark
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
This Wagon designed by Kay Bojesen in the 1950s features four characters in a wagon: mother, father and their two sons. This items has been loved and played with for many years and t...
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Beech
American Country Painted and Carved Wooden Rocking Horse
Located in New York, NY
American Country (20th Century) carved and painted double sided rocking horse.
Category
20th Century American Country Toys and Dolls
Materials
Paint, Wood
"Lady and Baby by The Wishing Well" Still Bank, German, circa 1910
Located in Incline Village, NV
Very interesting wooden still bank with lots going on. All hand-carved of wood with four small circular risers elevating the base. There is a water pump with a bucket hanging from it and a metal pumper attached to the top. A hand-carved and painted brown pine tree is attached at the opposite corner with a large water well to the other corner. A lady with outstretched arms and a "King Cole" type headdress seems to be reaching out to her baby dressed in green who is lying down on top of the well, next to the coin slot. Perhaps she is about to bathe her. A bird looks on from atop the perch protruding from the pump. Dominant hand painted colors are different shades of brown and all original with no repaint. Very nice all original paint and condition with a small chip missing here and there to this handmade, kind of "folksy", and very well done bank (see images). A round circular key lock trap for releasing the coins is on the underneath, along with "Wishing Well German" handwritten on the opposite corner (see image). Whether written by an earlier collector or maker is not known.
Dimensions: 4" square x 3 5/8" high.
A unique one of a kind piece to add to a collection of still banks and a nice addition to a Folk Art collection (from my own collection).
I am a leading specialist in the field of antique coin...
Category
1910s German Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
English 19th C. Children's Teak & Cane Chairs -Great Decor Accents or Display!
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of 19th century English children's chairs. This pair of antique English chairs feature cane seat and backs with curvy teak wood frames. The...
Category
19th Century English Antique Toys and Dolls
Materials
Cane, Wood, Teak
Spanish, 1850s Fair Carousel Wooden Dog
Located in Marbella, ES
Spanish, vintage hand painted wooden dog with stuck out tongue, from an old fair ground Carousel.
Category
Mid-19th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Antique Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
Rare Art Deco Pierette Half Doll Pin Cushion
Located in Devon, England
For your consideration is this petite and very skilfully painted Art Deco pin cushion head manufactured by the German factory of William Goebel. For your consideration is this rare designed Art Deco Pierette half doll...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Art Deco Toys and Dolls
Materials
Ceramic
Ado Ko Verzuu Puzzel Box Model 259 Holland 1939
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very rare puzzle tiles box model 259. designed by Ko Verzuu for Ado Holland in 1939. Ado means Arbeid door onvolwaardigen, translated; labor by incapacitated, which makes this an even more special piece. Toys by Ado are being highly collected at the moment, even more than ever cause this is very decorative combined with 1950s furniture from all countries!
Jacobus Johannes Josephus (Ko) Verzuu, a former construction supervisor from Utrecht, led the ADO workshops. He had delved into architecture and art and developed a strong preference for the abstract lines and bright colors, which can also be found in the followers of De Stijl group from the 1920s, followed by Piet Mondriaan, Theo van Doesburg, Vilmos Huszár...
Category
1930s Dutch De Stijl Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Plywood
Ado Puzzle Cubes Box Ko Verzuu, Holland, 1955
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice and highly decorative wooden toy cubes puzzle box model 255, designed by Ko Verzuu for Ado Holland in the 1955. Ado means Arbeid door onvolwaardigen, translated; labour by incapacitated, which makes this an even more special piece. Toys by Ado are being highly collected at the moment, even more than ever cause this is very decorative combined with 1950s furniture from all countries!
Jacobus Johannes Josephus (Ko) Verzuu, a former construction supervisor from Utrecht, led the ADO workshops. He had delved into architecture and art and developed a strong preference for the abstract lines and bright colours, which can also be found in the followers of De Stijl group from the 1920s, followed by Piet Mondriaan, Theo van Doesburg, Vilmos Huszár...
Category
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Plywood
Midcentury Walnut and Brass Kaliedoscope
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool and unique midcentury kaliedoscope made of walnut wood, a brass ring and glass ball. The piece is very high quality and presents some amazing images when held up to the l...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Brass
French Velocipede or Child's Horse Tricycle from the 19th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine French velocipede or child's toy horse tricycle from the 19th century, featuring a body of carved wood with brushed steel face-plate and glass ey...
Category
19th Century French Antique Toys and Dolls
Materials
Steel, Iron, Brass
Doorstop "Golfer" by Hubley, circa 1920
Located in Incline Village, NV
This doorstop, also known as "Overhead Swinging Golfer," is more difficult to find than it's "Putting Golfer" counterpart doorstop; which is also made by Hubley.
Manufactured by the Hubley Manufacturing Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1920, this cast iron doorstop is in outstanding all original bright paint with no touch up or restoration of any kind, and in wonderful patina. It depicts an older, grey haired man, with typical knicker golf garb, taking a wild swing at a golf ball resting on the grass. It has a semi "hollow" rear with a "238" factory marking, indicating that it is, in fact, by Hubley and original.
It is noted in Jeanne Bertoia's 1985 book on doorstops page 60; and referenced on page 211 of the Smith book on doorstops.
A must for the doorstop or golfing memorabilia...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Iron
Collection of 19th Century Cloth Animal Toys
Located in Stockton, NJ
A collection of thirteen mid-19th century Amish stuffed cloth toys. Featuring various cattle, elephant, zebra, camel, ducks, and ducks. Excellent decorative piece. Largest measures 6...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Folk Art Antique Toys and Dolls
Materials
Fabric
Automobile Amusement Park Battery Powered c1930's Believed to be one-of-a-kind
Located in Chicago, IL
Certainly, the most unusual Child’s Battery Powdered Electric Car I have ever seen. As the story was told to me back in the 1970’s, it was actually produced for the owner of an amusement park...
Category
1930s American Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Steel, Iron
Danish 19th Century Faience Money Bank In The Shape Of A Clogs
Located in Copenhagen, K
Danish 19th Century Faience Money Bank In The Shape Of A Clogs
Category
Late 19th Century Danish Folk Art Antique Toys and Dolls
Materials
Earthenware
Set of Three Kokeshi Dolls from Northern Japan
Located in Antwerp, BE
Kokeshi (こけし こけし, kokeshi), are Japanese dolls, originally from northern Japan. They are handmade from wood, have a simple trunk and an enlarged head with a few thin, painted lines t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
Art Deco French Souvenir Porcelain Trinket Tray
Located in Devon, England
For your consideration is this delightful early 1930s Art Deco porcelain souvenir tray. Depicting a young girl dressed in a sailors outfit with a large floppy hat on a conch shell and originating from France. Beautifully hand painted with lovely coloring and attention to detail. She has manufacturers number impressed to the back of the shell. She once would of had a paper umbrella much like the ones we use for cocktails today so this could easily be added. These souvenirs were sold in holiday destinations and often as a winnable gift from a local travelling fair. Today these souvenirs are highly collectible and sort after and range vastly in quality. This particular one is above average in it's design and craftsmanship. It's also a very nice size to display or use. This beautiful trinket tray...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Toys and Dolls
Materials
Ceramic
Vintage American Made Antique Wooden Snow Sled Toboggan
Located in Oakville, CT
Original, Vintage, American Made, Wooden Snow Sled / Toboggan. Bring the whole gang with you on this sleigh ride! The seat is 142" long with the original p...
Category
20th Century American Primitive Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
Vintage Painted Beech Zebra Figurine by Kay Bojesen, Denmark, 1950s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Wooden toy zebra figurine. Material: Beech. Color: White and black.
Design: Kay Bojesen. Origin: Denmark. Period: Manufactured in the 1950s (Designed i...
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Beech
Art Deco Era Vintage Brown Stitched Leather Ball, 1920s
Located in Vienna, AT
Art Deco vintage ball from stitched leather, 1920s with beautiful details like stitched leather parts and a beautiful leather patina.
The original condition of the leather punchball...
Category
1920s Art Deco Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Leather
Vintage English Toy Lion
Located in New York, NY
A rare early turn-of-the-century English nursery toy. A standing lion with warm smiling face and excellent detail. In hard molded rubber with the original...
Category
Early 20th Century English Toys and Dolls
American Mechanical Bank "Melody-Bank, " circa 1946
Located in Incline Village, NV
"Melody-Bank" is a rare bank and was manufactured by "Electric Coding Machine Co., N.Y.C." in 1946. American made, this is a genuine and authentic vintage mechanical bank, albeit somewhat later, having been manufactured in 1946. It maintains all of the elements of a collectible antique mechanical bank; pleasing shelf appeal and wonderful musical action. The metal faux textured, green painted casing on five sides is fronted by cardboard on wood, filled with delightful images of "children at play with money" lithography.
To operate: Wind up the mechanism by turning the brass dial in front clockwise; then put a nickel, dime, or quarter in the appropriate slot at the top. Music will play as additional lithography depicting children's nursery rhymes rotate on the interior circular dial ("Little Boy Blue", "Mary Had A Little Lamb", etc.).
Coins are removed by unscrewing the metal plate at the rear bottom.
Bank is in excellent all original condition with fully operable musical mechanism.
Dimensions: 7" high x 4 9/16" wide x 3" deep.
I am a leading specialist in the field of antique mechanical coin banks...
Category
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
Horse Cart Il Cavallino
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Horse cart, beautiful aged still functional.
Category
1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
Kay Bojesen Original Painted Beech Zebra Figure with Patina, 1950s Danish Modern
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Type: Wooden toy zebra, Figurine. Material: Beech. Color: White and black.
Design: Kay Bojesen. Origin: Denmark. Period: Manufactured in the 1950s (Designed in 1935). Measurements: ...
Category
1930s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Beech
Antique Mechanical Raphael Tuck & Sons Paper Toy St Bernard and Calf
Located in Haarlem, NL
Very rare, highly sought after and collectable Father Tuck's mechanical animals
The St. Bernard dog (Canis familiaris) No 1
and The calf of the comm...
Category
Early 20th Century European Toys and Dolls
Materials
Paper
Large Old Polychrome Painted Metal Model of a Lorry
Located in Baambrugge, NL
A large model of a lorry made in the second quarter of the 20th century. The cab is red, the body and flatbed maroon, above four spoked wheels. After an American Brockway truck.
...
Category
1920s European Industrial Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
Miniature Ash Back Kitchen Chair 19th Century Apprentice Piece
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
19th century miniature beech and ash hoop back kitchen chair
A delightful piece, this chair it may be tiny but it has the most wonderful look, a great patina and charm.
The chair...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Country Antique Toys and Dolls
Materials
Ash
Rare Leather and Jute Therapeutic Toy Seal by Renate Muller
Located in Berlin, BE
Very rare therapeutic toys Seal in natural jute with colored leather out of the 1970s in excellent collectors condition. The toy is designed by Renate Müller and handmade. The Renate Müller toys...
Category
1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Jute, Leather
Antique English Miniature Oak Chest of Drawers
Located in Port Chester, NY
Charming piece, lovely color. Suitable for smaller pieces of jewelry. Well-made, chipwork and champhered elements.
Category
Early 20th Century English Toys and Dolls
Materials
Oak
Five Mechanical Bank Trade Cards in Frame, circa 1880s
By J. & E. Steven's Company
Located in Incline Village, NV
Five mechanical bank trade cards are displayed in two separate frames. In one frame are three polychrome trade cards, which the salesmen typically carrie...
Category
19th Century American Folk Art Antique Toys and Dolls
Materials
Paper
19th Century, Little Bicycle Made of Solid Wood with Metal Wheels
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century, little bicycle made of solid wood with pedals, adjustable seat and stable front part.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
Collection of 15 'Bottletop' Dolls, circa 1960s
Located in London, GB
Unusual collection of 15 'Bottletop' dolls. Although we purchased these dolls in France, we believe they originated in America.
Category
1960s American Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
Vintage Two-Seat Tricycle, Belgium, circa 1940
Located in Napa, CA
Vintage two-seat tricycle with leather seats and a spare tire mounted on the back. The turquoise tricycle has a round mirror on the handle bar. Tricycle is from Belgium and dates back to the 1940s. For decorative use only.
Plaque reads: Brights Mastermakers of Kid Rides.
Category
1940s Belgian Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
Box Containing 10 Dismountable Wooden Geometric Solids Italy Vallardi, 1963
Located in Milan, IT
Box containing 10 dismounplate geometric solids of oak wood, height 20 cm, inch 7.9, in their original wooden box complete with illustrative leaflet for calculating surfaces and volumes. Made for educational purposes for schools by Antonio Vallardi publisher in 1963. Box cm 30.5 x 40.5 H 12 cm.
The origins of the publisher Vallardi date back to 1750 when founder Francesco Cesare (1736-1799) acquired a small craft in the heart of old Milan. In the early nineteenth century, the publishing house was noted for the production of works of art, geography and science, including a "Tour of Italy" which took twenty-two printings between 1819 and 1835. The complete works of various maps and directions for travel, including timetables and fares for transportation of the time, can be considered the first modern tourist guide. The firm "Vallardi" was born in 1843 and the company became industrial, with the opening of branches on national scale...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Oak
Therapeutic Jute Children Toy Hippo by Renate Müller Germany 1970s
Located in Vienna, AT
This authentic animal toy from the 1970s was designed by Renate Müller. Unique in shape and workmanship. This example shows hippo made of jute.?The high quality toy is handmade from ecologically acceptable materials.
Renate Müller developed high-quality children's toys in cooperation with doctors and therapists in the GDR. She later on worked with small series and even more valuable materials, making the toys being dealt at high prices. The robust toy animals from Müller's manufactory are now traded worldwide. The older toys...
Category
1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Leather, Jute
Ado Ko Verzuu Toy Crate Truck Holland 1948
By Ko Verzuu
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare collectible toy large toy truck designed by Ko Verzuu for Ado Holland in 1950. Ado means Arbeid door onvolwaardigen, translated; labor by incapacitated, which makes this an even more special piece. Toys by Ado are being highly collected at the moment, even more than ever cause this is very decorative combined with 1950s furniture from all countries!
Very nice red, blue and yellow truck, handmade and hand painted. This is a service truck with seperate wooden carts to be loaded on and off with a little winch. De Bijenkorf sold a lot of Ado furniture in the 30s-60s. Ado toys have a great charm because of their played look and original age wear but this one is very well kept. This car is in a fantastic original condition. Would be an amazing addition to any interior or collection as a decorative object with a beautiful history. Have a look at the large collection of trucks we have available at the moment.
Jacobus Johannes Josephus (Ko) Verzuu, a former construction supervisor from Utrecht, led the ADO workshops. He had delved into architecture and art and developed a strong preference for the abstract lines and bright colors, which can also be found in the followers of De Stijl group from the 1920s, followed by Piet Mondriaan, Theo van Doesburg, Vilmos Huszár...
Category
1940s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
Antique Vintage Wood Toy Airplane Propeller
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Antique wood toy airplane propeller
12 x 1.13 x .38 thick
Original unrestored vintage condition
Refer to images listed please.
Category
1940s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
Boxed Marionette Theatre Toy, Early 20th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
Antique mechanical marionette theatre toy by CK made in Japan.
A clockwork tin - metal swing with 2 adorable celluloid puppets or dolls: a clown and a ballerina.
By the movement of the swing it seems that the boy and girl are dancing.
At the back of the boy you see " my friend Japan " and the swing does have a patent number.
The mechanical swing still works by the wind-up clockwork.
The little dolls do not have damage.
The upper part of the strings have been replaced during the years.
The cardboard canopy roof with felt of the theatre and the original cardboard box do have some traces by age and beeing played with.
Antique toys - antique tin toys - celluloid dolls...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Art Deco Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal, Other
Vintage Book of Knowledge Cast Iron Spise a Mule Mechanical Bank, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
A vintage book of knowledge Spise a mule mechanical bank offers polychrome cast construction with boy and mule, underside reads "Reproduced from Origina...
Category
20th Century American Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal, Iron
Vintage Doll Shaped Ring Bell Hanging Handmade Pottery 1960s
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Bell doll
Vintage doll shaped ring bell handmade pottery doll with little shoes underneath.
Unmarked.
Measures: 6 H x 2.75 W x 2.5 D inches
Unrestore...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Pottery
Huge Wooden Toy Soldier by Kay Bojesen
By Kay Bojesen
Located in San Diego, CA
Huge Royal Guardsman Standard-Bearer designed by Kay Bojesen. Includes the original Danish flag. Incredibly rare at this scale, Denmark, 1950s.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
Therapeutic Small Elephant Toy in Jute and Leather by Renate Müller, circa 1969
Located in New York, NY
Therapeutic toy small elephant in jute and leather. Originally designed and made by Renate Müller for H. Josef Leven, Sonneberg, Germany, circa 1969.
Category
1960s German Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Leather, Jute
Therapeutic Toy Cube in Jute with Leather by Renate Müller, 1968-1974
Located in New York, NY
Therapeutic Toy cube in jute with leather detailing. Designed and made by Renate Müller for H. Josef Leven, Sonneberg, Germany, produced between 1968 and 1974.
Category
1960s German Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Leather, Jute
1960s Sebel Mobo Toy Horse, Pedal Carrey Trailer, Pressed Steel, UK
By Mobo Toys
Located in Antwerp, BE
1960s vintage Mobo Toy - Sebel Mobo Toy, D. Sebel & co Erith Kent, England.
A pressed steel cute pony horse with a Carrey Trailer.
This Child's ride on to...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Steel
1972 Love Buggie Coin Operated Kiddie Ride
Located in New York, NY
Colorful Volkswagen kiddie car ride from circa 1972. This has not been tested. Please inquire about working order. This can be seen at our 400 Gilligan St location in Scranton, PA.
Category
1970s American Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
American Toy Childs Automobile Garage
Located in Chicago, IL
American child’s toy car garage in pretty decent condition, considering these were for children to play with. This toy garage is for 1/43rd scale model cars...
Category
1930s American Vintage Toys and Dolls
American Folk-Art Carved Wooden Canoe
Located in Chicago, IL
American folk-art canoe, probably from Alaska, but could also be American Indian. Has quite a bit of age to it and I would expect it was made in the early 1800s. The canoers are made...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Toys and Dolls
Antique, New and Vintage Toys and Dolls
Antique, new and vintage toys and dolls 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.
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. 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 and dolls 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, new and vintage toys and dolls as well as folk-art toys on 1stDibs.