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Toys and Dolls For Sale
Period: Mid-20th Century
Period: 1910s
Horse on Wheels Toy Framed Painting
Located in Antwerp, BE
Framed painting of a papier mache horse toy on wheels.
A paper mache - cardboard ride on toy horse - pull toy - horse pull toy with a boy on top. The boy wears a stylish blue costum...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Toys and Dolls
Materials
Canvas, Plaster, Wood
Tin Spinning Top Toy , Disney Characters by LBZ, Western Germany
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage Tin spinning top toy with lots of Walt Disney characters:
Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck.
This Tin Toy was produced in Weste...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Set of Two Traditional Japanese Kokeshi Dolls, circa 1930
Located in Barcelona, ES
Japanese dolls called Kokeshi of the early 20th century.
Provenance from the northern Japan.
Set of 2.
Measures:
31 x 8 cm
28 x 7 cm
Handmade by Japanese artisants from wood. Ha...
Category
1930s Japanese Japonisme Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
Catrina, polychrome terracotta sculpture, Mexico
By Diego Rivera
Located in Spinea, Veneto
Mexican artist of the 20th century
Catrina
polychrome painted terracotta sculpture
cm. 61x22x19
Mexico, mid-20th century
In good overall condition, some minor defects as evidenced ...
Category
1950s Mexican Other Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Terracotta
Austin Alcoa Aluminum Sculptural Puzzle Triangles
Located in San Diego, CA
Austin Enterprises aluminum sculptural puzzle produced by Alcoa Aluminum. Walnut case.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Aluminum
Antique Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse Train Hand Car by Disney & Lionel Circa 1934
By Walt Disney
Located in Incline Village, NV
Vintage Mickey/ Minnie Mouse Toy Wind-Up pre-war handcar (train car) circa 1934; by The Lionel Train Company in collaboration with Walt Disney Enterprises. The wind-up toy car featur...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
Vintage "Masuyama" Lehman Wind-Up Toy. German, Circa 1913 Rare
Located in Incline Village, NV
Early 1900's German hand painted and lithographed tin wind-up toy, by premier tin and whimsical toy maker, Ernest Paul Lehman, circa 1913. This charming and unique toy portrays a Ja...
Category
1910s German Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Vintage Toy Wind-Up Speed Boat with Driver by Lindstrom Toy Co., American 1933
Located in Incline Village, NV
Vintage toy speed boat manufactured by the Lindstrom Toy Company of Bridgeport Connecticut, circa 1933 or earlier; the Lindstrom company having been founded in 1913, made quality tin...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Vintage Marx Fire Chief Friction Action Toy Sedan American, Circa 1930
By Marx Toy Co.
Located in Incline Village, NV
This original vintage friction activated toy sedan" Fire Chief" Car by The Marx Toy Company, circa 1930, is a difficult toy to find, especially in this variation, which I have not se...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin, Steel
Vintage Toy Wind-Up "Baby L" Speedboat by Lindstrom Toy Co., American Circa 1933
Located in Incline Village, NV
Vintage toy speed boat manufactured by the Lindstrom Toy Company of Bridgeport Connecticut, circa 1933 or earlier; the Lindstrom company having been founded in 1913, made quality tin...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Antique Group of 6 Skookum Dolls, 1913s
Located in Norton, MA
A Skookum doll was a Native American-themed doll, sold as a souvenir item in the early 20th century.
They are all in different sizes. The last photo shows the dimensions (inch) of ea...
Category
1910s German Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Composition
XL Red Wooden Dump Truck Toy, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
XL red wooden dump truck toy.
A large toy truck made of red and blue hand-painted wood.
Category
Mid-20th Century European Industrial Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
Mannequin of a Young Girl in Black Dress, Shop Display, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Original shop window display child mannequin for primary school clothing, she wears a black dress as an example for children's uniforms from the 1950s.
Category
1950s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paint
Collection of Three Vintage Wooden Toys
Located in Port Chester, NY
Charming collection of vintage wooden toys from England The big blue British Rail engine is from Nicol Toys, an early wooden toy company in Roberts...
Category
1930s English Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Paint, Wood
Daiya Japan 1960s Motorcycle - Stunt Driver - Tin Motorcycle Tin Toy
Located in Catania, IT
Daiya brand tin motorcycle made in Japan 1960s
in very good condition consistent with the wear and tear of time
See photos in details.
Measures:
Length 27 cms
Width 13 cm
Height ...
Category
1960s Japanese Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
King Edward V111 Royal Commemorative Pottery Beaker, May 12th 1937
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a royal commemorative earthenware (pottery) beaker celebrating the planned coronation of King Edward V111th on May 12th 1937.
The tapering beaker or cup would have been made...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Toys and Dolls
Materials
Earthenware
1950s Spanish Metal Dog Toy with Ball
Located in Marbella, ES
1950s Spanish metal dog toy with ball.
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
Vintage Brooke Bond Tea and Coffee Cast Iron Horse and Wagon with Driver
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Brooke Bond Tea and Coffee Cast Iron Horse and Wagon, Driver included.
Please look at all the pictures antique Cast iron coach, horse and wagon in good vintage condition, whe...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Iron
Vintage 1950 London Design Centre Wooden Pull Along toy Caterpillar
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
1950s Vintage wooden pull along caterpillar
Very nice oscillating caterpillar, the wheels are set off centre so when pulled along the caterpillar appears to move up and down.
In nic...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
3 x ADO Ko Verzuu Children Toy Blocks bag, De Stijl, the Netherlands, 1950's
By Ko Verzuu
Located in EINDHOVEN, NL
3 x nice mid-century decorative toy cubes/blocks bags, designed by Ko Verzuu for ADO Holland in the 1950s. Price is for the complete set of 3 bags of wooden toy blocks!
3 very nice...
Category
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Canvas, Rope, Wood
Heirloom Doll Size Colonial Style Solid Wood Schoolhouse Desk
Located in Middletown, MD
Handmade in Lancaster, Pennsylvania circa 1940 of native pine. An adorable replica of what was typically found in school houses throughout colonial times.
In good condition with mi...
Category
Mid-20th Century American American Colonial Toys and Dolls
Materials
Pine
MCM Newton's Cradle "Swinging Wonder" Executive Desk Game
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool vintage MCM "Swinging Wonder" executive desk game, circa 1960s. This item is in very good vintage condition with original label and measure...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Steel
"Sweetheart" Handmade Solid Wood Doll Highchair
Located in Middletown, MD
Heirloom quality solid wood doll highchair handmade in Lancaster, PA circa 1940 of native pine. Tray moves easily upon raising and lowering. Legs are sturdy and presents beautifully...
Category
Mid-20th Century American American Colonial Toys and Dolls
Materials
Pine
1930s /40s W.D. Hensell & Sons Bocci (Lawn) Balls with original leather bag
By W.D. Wilson
Located in Buffalo, NY
.
1930's ,40's Bocci / Lawn Balls with original leather carrying bag.. Made in Australia by W.D. Hensell & Sons
Category
1940s Australian Industrial Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Leather, Wood
Vintage Toy Wind-Up "Johnny" The Dancing Clown by Lindstrom Toy Co., Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is a hard to find pre war vintage, Made in America wind up tin toy by The Lindstrom Toy Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, circa 1928-1932. The action is fabulous; when wound ...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Lot of Four Vintage Steiff Animals, Squirrel Camel Hamster & Giraffe, 1960s
By Steiff
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This collection of stuffed animals includes 4 figures:
1) Miniature Steiff Squirrel (No button and flag, but cardboard label). About 3.75" high.
2) Steiff Hamster (parts of flag and...
Category
1960s German Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Mohair
Vintage 1950's MARX Pressed Steel and Aluminum A&P Market Delivery Toy Truck
By Marx Toy Co.
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage 1950's MARX Pressed Steel and Aluminum A&P Market Delivery Toy Truck and trailer .. Amazing original condition. rear doors open and close, all whee...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
Wyandotte Lasalle Toy Car and Airstream Trailer .pressed steel , Art Deco
By Wyandotte
Located in Buffalo, NY
1930's Wyandotte Lasalle Touring Car and Airstream Trailer .pressed steel , Art Deco vintage toy.. Seldom seen green color,, Car and Trailer in Nice original condition,original paint...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Steel
Mid-Century, Waldorf Wooden Sheep with Brown Sheep Fur
By Peter Kraft
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cute, Mid-Century, decorative sheep by Waldorf with genuine brown sheep wool and a carved wood face and legs. Vintage accent piece with leather ears and light patina. In original co...
Category
1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Sheepskin, Wood
"George The Drummer Boy" Tin windup Toy by Louis Marx, New York City. Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
This circa 1930 "George, Drummer Boy" brightly colored lithographed tin wind-up toy capitalizes on the popularity of marching bands, spawned from the military and World War I victory...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Rare and Collectible 1960's Horikawa Space Station Toy
Located in Redding, CT
Rare and Collectible 1960's Horikawa Space Station Toy. Perfect for that space age toy collector. Tin Lithograph sphere that says Nasa Space Station on t...
Category
1960s Japanese Space Age Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
"Boy Riding An Alligator" Vintage Wind-Up Toy by J. Chein Co., N.J., Circa 1935
Located in Incline Village, NV
Manufactured circa 1935 by The J. Chein Company in Harrison, New Jersey, this vintage tin toy, when wound up, depicts a young boy in islander garb, trying to ride an alligator who da...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Vintage Santa Mailbox
Located in Asheville, NC
Vintage Santa mailbox, made of tin and wood this small child size mailbox is a dear reminder of sending letters to Santa whether you are naughty of nice!
Category
1960s American Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Vintage Toy Wind-Up Dump Truck by The Marx Toy Company, N.Y. American Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
Offered is a hard to find Marx floor toy dump truck with dual action. NOT diecast------made of all tin. Capability to raise and lower the bed is activated by rotating the attached a...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
"Joe Penner" Vintage Clockwork Windup Toy by Louis Marx Co American Circa 1930's
Located in Incline Village, NV
Fabulous American vintage all tin wind-up toy with attached key and clockwork mechanism, whereby upon winding it up, the character (Joe Penner) waddles aimlessly across the floor, hat flying in the air with notorious cigar in motion (see attached video with listing). The toy is in wonderful and complete original condition with all original parts and authentic factory paint. It is often found incomplete (cigar or hat missing more often than not); and usually doesn't work properly. My example works great and is in nice bright original paint and lithography, in multiple colors of a black and white checkered suit...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Jigger Doll
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century English Folk Art jigger doll
A wonderful example of a unique Folk Art handcrafted jigger doll we have lovingly ...
Category
1930s British Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Pine, Paint
Cute Midcentury Rubber Italian Squeeking Toy, Ca. 1950s
Located in Schagen, NL
Cute Little Rubber Squeeking Toy, which we believe, features a Lamb. The Lamb features a rotable head which is quite uncommon. Lovely piece which remains in good condition, a working...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Rubber
Collection of (3) American Eskimo Children's Toys Two of Which are Identified
Located in Chicago, IL
Collection of (3) Native American Eskimo Toys. The kayaker in the middle is signed, "Andre Boucher", who was flat-plane woodcarver – trained at Sa...
Category
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Fur, Hide, Cotton, Wood
Walt Disney Enterprises "Pinocchio" Wind-Up Toy by Marx Toy Co., N.Y. Dated 1939
Located in Incline Village, NV
Fabulous condition and in perfect working order on this "Walt Disney Enterprises" copyrighted (labeled---see image) vintage wind-up toy of the iconic Disney character "Pinocchio", da...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
"Walking Popeye" With Parrots Vintage Windup Toy by Marx Toy Co.
Located in Incline Village, NV
Vintage 1930's wind-up toy by the Marx Toy Company of New York, portraying the iconic comic character, "Popeye" the sailorman. He is depicted with Parrots in each hand inside of bird...
Category
1930s Art Deco Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
40 inch vintage Pinokkio by Giocattoli Brevettati Galetti 1960's, Italy
Located in The Hague, NL
Offering a beautiful, large Pinocchio made of solid wood,
A great 100 cm high and al parts are movable.
He has only suffered a few injuries over the years and created beautiful pat...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Pine
Lovely Italian Midcentury Rubber Toy, Lamb, Ca. 1950s
Located in Schagen, NL
Absolutely Lovely, this little Lamb Squeeker Toy, manufactured in Italy. The piece shows some signs of age and use, for instance some paint loss to the nose and an unfortunately not ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Rubber
Marx Toys Key-Wind Tin Lithograph "Jalopy" Toy Car with Box
By Marx Toy Co.
Located in Fulton, CA
A mechanical wind-up tin lithograph toy car by Marx Toys. "Jalopy" Circa. 1940's. Excellent original working condition. Includes original box.
Category
1940s Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Marx Toys Cowboy in Jeep Tin Lithograph Wind-Up Toy
By Marx Toy Co.
Located in Fulton, CA
1950's Marx Toys tin lithograph and plastic wind-up Jeep with Cowboy driver. Notice cowboy boots and steer horns mounted to front grill. Excellent, original working condition.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Set of Three Midcentury Danish Vikings Figures by Jacob Jensen
By Jacob Jensen
Located in San Diego, CA
Set of three midcentury Danish Viking figures made of mixed woods by Jacob Jensen, circa 1950s. The figures are in good vintage condition and measure: 5...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood, Teak, Walnut
4 Vintage 1950s Teak Danish Viking Soldier Figures Mid-Century Collection
By Jacob Jensen
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Set of Four, incomplete. The shortest one is missing one arm and one spears. Another taller one is missing a spear. The tallest one is 5.25 inches tall.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Teak
Li'l Abner Tin Lithograph Mechanical Wind-Up Piano Band Toy
By Unique Art Manufacturing Co.
Located in Fulton, CA
Unique Art Manufacturing Toy Company. Circa. 1940’s. Tin Lithographed Windup “Li’l Abner and his Dogpatch Band” . In excellent, original working condition. Tin wind up toy...
Category
1940s American Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Vintage 1950's small wooden monkey - Kay Bojesen style
By Zoo Line, Kay Bojesen
Located in EINDHOVEN, NL
Small vintage 1950's wooden monkey by Kay Bojesen.
In nice original condition - beautiful patina on the wood - one piece of the monkeys left hand is missing.
See pictures. You can e...
Category
1950s Japanese Scandinavian Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Hardwood
Vintage Tin Wind-up Toy "Clown in A Barrel" by J Chein & Co. American Circa 1935
Located in Incline Village, NV
Made by J. Chein & Company Circa 1935 in New York City; originally inventoried as #258 (same number as similar looking Popeye toy dated 1932) and was named "Mechanical Clown Barrel Walker". The name of the maker "Chein" is stamped as a logo to the rear of the barrel (see image). This is one of the earlier toys that Chein made.
The lithography and hand paint are in gorgeous original condition with bright colors of red and gold to the barrel, flesh tones to the clown, who sports a multi colorful smiling face.
The toy works great; simply wind the attached key wind in the back 1/2 revolution; place on the hard surface----the clown waddles across the floor, back and forth, while shaking his head to and fro (see accompanying video with this listing to see it work)
In addition to being quite a scarce toy it is even more difficult to find in this fine condition. Often times the head is lacking or replaced from rough usage and surface rarely maintains this beautiful finish. This particular example is completely original with no restorations, repairs, or touch up paint of any kind. There is a small 5/8" superficial indentation to the front top of barrel (see image). This would make a proud addition to any collection of vintage toys or Americana.
Dimensions: 7 1/2" high x 3 1/4" wide x 4" deep
See my other listings of vintage toys.
Provenance: From a recently acquired West Coast collection of fine quality tin toys.
Note: After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting toys, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage toys and children's playthings; important considering the fakes and reproductions in the marketplace. My toys operate properly and are as stated and accurately described.
it would behoove an enterprising collector, dealer, or decorator to take advantage of the opportunity to buy as many of the vintage...
Category
1930s Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Vintage Coin Operated Carousel Horse Ride
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Coin Operated Carousel Horse Ride
Classic American Vintage 25 Cent Coin Operated Carousel Horse Children's Ride By Amusement Equipment Mfg. Ltd.
Eldon, MO
All Original, Operational When Plugged in, Not Set for Coin Rides...
Category
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
"B.O. Plenty" Vintage Wind-Up Tin Toy by Marx Original Box. American, Circa 1935
Located in Incline Village, NV
"B.O. Plenty (printed on the back) is the name of this American made tin wind-up toy; named after the classic Dick Tracy comic book and radio character of the 1930's. In his hand he is holding his daughter, Baby Sparkle.
Markings include the Marx logo to the rear "Made in The United States of America" in logo as well as location of manufacture, "New York, N,Y.". Vertically in small print on back of pants "By Permission of Famous Artists Syndicated Copyright By Chicago Tribune" (see images for markings), Markings on the box contribute to validating the genesis and name of the toy, and 200 fifth Avenue, New York address of the Marx Company, which was founded in 1919.
Highly lithographed (comes with the very hard to find nice condition original box as well) this example is in excellent and all original condition with no restoration or touch up of any kind.Colors include; yellow shirt and hat. blue vest, brown striped pants, white and flesh tones to face and baby. The toy features B.O. Plenty with a "wise guy" look on his face, while holding his baby. When wound up he waddles back and forth, with his hat flying up in the air and back down again (see movie attached to this listing). The toy works great!
Dimensions: 8 1/2" high x 2 3/4" wide x 2 1/2" deep.
Provenance: From a recently acquired West Coast collection of fine quality tin toys.
See my other listings of vintage toys.
Note: After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting toys, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage toys and children's playthings; important considering the fakes and reproductions in the marketplace. My toys operate properly and are as stated and accurately described.
it would behoove an enterprising collector, dealer, or decorator to take advantage of the opportunity to buy as many of the vintage tin toys...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Art Deco Polished Chrome Adult Size Tricycle Trike style of Bowden, 1940
By AMF, Inc. 1
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Circa 1940 is polished to chrome steel with walnut-finished handlebars in the style of Bowden Tricycle.
This large tricycle with easy fit a small adult 5' 6". Feel to message me wi...
Category
1940s Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Aluminum
Mid-Century, Brown. Waldorf Rocking Sheep
By Peter Kraft
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cute mid-century rocking sheep with real sheep coat, carved wood face and rocker. A vintage room accessory perfect for adding a little life a...
Category
1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Sheepskin, Wood
Vintage Mixed Woods Hand Crafted Kaleidoscope
Located in San Diego, CA
A super cool vintage mixed woods (walnut and maple) hand-crafted kaleidoscope, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition and measures 1.75"D x 8.5"H. You can create s...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Toys and Dolls
Materials
Maple, Walnut
Kay Bojesen, Vintage Early Large Monkey, teak and limba wood, stamped, 1950s
By Kay Bojesen
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
This is a vintage early example of the largest production monkey, designed by Kay Bojesen in 1951. Constructed from teak and limba wood, the joints are articulated allowing the monk...
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Teak
Vintage 1950's USSR Tin Windup Donkey Clown Carriage Toy
Located in EINDHOVEN, NL
Vintage 1950's USSR Tin Windup Circus Donkey Carriage with clown.
The mechanism is intact but not working. Simple to restore.
Length approx: 18 cm
Width approx: 9.5 cm
Height approx...
Category
1950s Russian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls
Materials
Sheet Metal, Tin
Beaded Ndebele Ceremonial Doll
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king...
Category
Mid-20th Century South African Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Fabric, Cotton, Wood
Japanese Ichimatsu Doll of a Little Boy Dressed in a City Kimono, circa 1950
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Japanese Ichimatsu doll depicting a little boy wearing a city kimono. Step back in time and embrace the captivating charm of this vintage Ichimatsu do...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Toys and Dolls
Materials
Porcelain, Fabric, Silk
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.