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Toys and Dolls For Sale
Period: 1940s
Period: 1920s
Antique Toy Wind-Up Double Decker Bus by Ferdinand Strauss Toy Co. Circa 1925
Located in Incline Village, NV
Antique Wind-Up Double Decker open air bus by the Ferdinand Strauss Toy Company, New York; circa 1925; is quite a large and substantial toy resembling very closely, buses of that era...
Category

1920s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

Windup Ham and Sam “The Minstrel Team” Tin Litho Toy c.1921, , Piano / banjo
Located in Buffalo, NY
Americana Toy This is a tin, lithographed, windup Ham and Sam “The Minstrel Team” manufactured by the Ferdinand Strauss Company/Strauss Mfg. Co. of New York ...
Category

1920s American Art Deco Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal, Steel

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

Early 20th Century A. Quisto Ventriloquist Dummy Head
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century A. Quisto Ventriloquist Dummy Head A quirky example of an early 20th Century A. Quisto ventriloquist dummy head. In the form of a smoking figure, with glass eyes ...
Category

1940s British Late Victorian Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Paper

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

"Dancing Dog" Vintage Windup Toy. American, Circa 1925
Located in Incline Village, NV
"Dancing Dog" is a fairly scarce toy to acquire, especially in this excellent condition and working order. Windup toy is lithographed and hand painted in colors of black and greenish grey, and the name "Spot" is printed in bold letters on the red collar. This is American made in the 1920's having been manufactured by the Lindstrom Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut; established in 1913. Markings to each side of the dog reveal its genesis; "The Lindstrom Tool and Toy Co.; Made in U.S.A." "Patent Applied For"; on the other side is "Dancing Dog". "Dancing Dog" is in excellent condition and is completely original with no repairs or repaint. It works perfectly and is quite amusing. To operate; wind up the attached key on the side, a couple of times; with front legs in the air, place down by his hind legs on a hard surface and watch "Spot" dance. He carries on for quite some time, dancing around in a circle and then side to side. (see attached video accompanying the listing). Dimensions: 5 1/4" wide x 4" high x 2 1/4" deep. Provenance: From a recently acquired discerning West Coast Collection of 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

1920s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

Marx Toys Key-Wind Tin Lithograph "Jalopy" Toy Car with Box
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

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

Toy Cast Iron Truck Car Carrier; Three Cars by A.C. Williams American Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
Founded in 1886, the A.C. Williams Toy Company in Ravenna, Ohio, manufactured this toy circa 1930. This cast iron truck car carrier loaded with three blue "Austin" sedans ("Austin" embossed on the side of each car) is completely original with no restoration of any kind, and is in original paint with no touch-up or repaint. I have black lighted everything to insure originality of paint. A red Mack truck hitched to a green trailer pulls the car carrier with it's three original cars; all nickel plated wheels on all vehicles are original. Other markings include #5, #11, and #1 on the inside of each car by rear axle; and #5 on the green trailer; #5 on the red truck. Wonderful piece of Americana in very nice condition; one or several of the cars usually are missing and/or typically repainted due to rough floor play. See my other listings of vintage toys. Dimensions: 12 1/2" long x 2" wide x 4 1/4" high. Each cast iron car...
Category

1920s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

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

4 sets Children Toy Blocks, De Stijl, Amsterdam School, Berlage, 1920's
By De Stijl, Ko Verzuu, Gerrit Rietveld, Theo van Doesburg
Located in EINDHOVEN, NL
4 Very nice and decorative toy cubes boxes in two sizes. 1920s the Netherlands. Kropholler, Berlage, de Klerk, Kramer, Gerrit Rietveld, Theo van Doesburg, De Stijl. 2 Large boxes 9,5 cm Wooden ball in every box 2 small boxes 7cm Comes with set small building blocks Very nice in combination with the 1920s Amsterdam School...
Category

1920s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

A Wonderful Old French Pull Along Circus Elephant
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A Wonderful Old French Pull Along Circus Elephant Our charming fellow has a a very worn felt coat/saddle and a matching head dress, he sits on red tin w...
Category

1920s Arts and Crafts Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Felt

Ceramic Piggy Bank by Eva Jancke Björk, Bo Fajans, 1940s
Located in Grythyttan, SE
A charming piggy bank designed by Eva Jancke Björk for Bo Fajans. While the piggy banks from Bo Fajans may share similar shapes, each one boasts a distinct hand-painted face and atti...
Category

1940s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Ceramic

Black & White Vintage Toy Police Pedal Car
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Fun vintage Police Highway Patrol metal pedal car by Glide Ride. Great graphic design complete with crank siren on the side. In working order, but we ...
Category

1940s American American Classical Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Beautiful Children's Sewing Machine Toy Bear Cat Motive by Carl Sieper Germany
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful Children Toy sewing machine. Made of metal. Was made in the years right after WWII and is marked "Made Germany, British Zone". Made by C...
Category

1940s German Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Japanese Puzzle Bank Portrays A Building Bank "National Savings Bank" Circa 1948
Located in Incline Village, NV
Quite an unusual piece for bank collectors or just for those seeking a unique collectible. This is a coin bank made of all wood; walnut and inlay here and there with a green painted ...
Category

1940s Japanese Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

Mid-20th Century Papier Mache German Toy
Located in London, GB
Mid-20th Century Papier Mache German Toy Every now and again an item comes along that is very special, this is one of those items. Of museum quality this m...
Category

1940s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Paper

1930s Austrian Horse Toy
By Craft and Folk Art Museum
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Beautiful 1930s Austrian horse toy. Wonderful patina.
Category

1920s Austrian Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Bentwood

"Drummer Boy" Tin-wind-up Toy by Louis Marx, New York City, circa 1940's
Located in Incline Village, NV
This 1940's "Drummer Boy" brightly colored lithographed tin wind-up toy capitalizes on the popularity of marching bands, spawned from World War II and the preponderance of patriotism...
Category

1940s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

Early 20th Century Keystone Pressed Steel Toy Steam Shovel
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and a survivor of almost 100 years old. A very decorative piece to lighten a room and inject some fun. Very chic. In excellent antique condition with lots of patina. Door fo...
Category

1920s American Industrial Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Steel

Late 1940s Penny Toy Wind-Up Train, Attributed Japan
Located in Incline Village, NV
Diminutive late 1940s "penny toy like" wind-up tin toy platform train modern and sleek looking for that era; it is hand painted and lithographed in bright co...
Category

1940s Japanese Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

Early 20th Century English Folk Art Puppet Figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century English folk art puppet figure We share what we love, and we love this early 20th century articulated folk art puppet figure. Made from hand carved pin, The base (handle) moves up and down to animate the puppets head. Arms are moved with the sticks. Original linen clothes...
Category

1920s European Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Pine

Antique Traditional Jewish Chandelier, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique traditional Jewish chandelier. By unknown manufacturer, circa 1940. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina. ...
Category

1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Antique 1926 Sebel Products Mobo Tot Cycle Bicycle Childrens Pedal Bike 30"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique child’s bicycle, the Mobo Tot-Cycle by Sebel Products of England. Features a well worn steel frame with red and white paint job, rubber tires a...
Category

1920s Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Carved and Painted Children's Toy Skittle Game Set from England, circa 1940
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Four sets of skittle pins painted to look like toy soldiers from 1940s England. The bright, cheery colors and elegant carving make these an especially char...
Category

1940s English Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Scratch-Built Tricycle Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century scratch-built tricycle model. A charming example of an English scratch built folk art child’s tricycle model. Constructed from a metal frame, wooden wheels, han...
Category

1920s British Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Early 20th Century English Folk Art Figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century English Folk Art Figure We share what we love, and we love this early 20th Century example of an English doubl...
Category

1920s European Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Pine

Antique Carnival Party Box with Original Objects, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique vintage party box with all the original objects. Manufacturer by El Ingenio, Barcelona. Spain, circa 1940. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and ...
Category

1940s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

1940s Doll Mold of a Baby Face
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1940s Toy mold of a baby doll face.
Category

1940s Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

Traditional Paper Lantern, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Traditional textile and metal lantern. By unknown manufacturer from Spain, circa 1940. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful ...
Category

1940s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Set of 4 Antique Bilboquets, France
Located in Schellebelle, BE
Beautiful set of four antique Bilboquets from France,around 1920, cup-and-bowl children toys in turned Beechwood, dark tinted, pretty patina, a set full of charm and authenticity ...
Category

1920s French Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Beech

Traditional Folding Metal Lantern, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Traditional textile and metal lantern. By unknown manufacturer from Spain, circa 1940. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful ...
Category

1940s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Antique Carnival Party Box with Original Objects, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique vintage party box with all the original objects. Manufacturer by El Ingenio, Barcelona, Spain, circa 1940. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use...
Category

1940s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Tipp & Co Clockwork Motorcycle With Rider & Pillion Passenger
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Tipp & Co. Toy Clockwork Tinplate Motorcycle. A rare, desirable, tinplate wind-up motorcycle by the renowned German manufacturer, Tipp & Co or TippCo. The original tin windup motorbike with a civilian male rider and female pillion passenger. The clockwork toy...
Category

1920s Sporting Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

Traditional Paper Lantern, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Traditional paper lantern. By unknown manufacturer from Spain, circa 1940. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and...
Category

1940s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Bamboo, Paper

Beautiful Old Oriental Guy Candy Container Secret Chamber Figure, Vintage German
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare candy Container or secret chamber figure. Made in Germany, circa 1920s. Made of wire covered with paper mache, gold foil, paper, wood and fabric clothing. Beautiful to display...
Category

1920s German Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Composition

Antique French Art Deco Mirrored Three-Door Prototype Miniature Armoire, 1920s
Located in Barntrup, DE
Unique and stunning French Art Deco three-door miniature armoire with mirror, brass handles, and hand-carved floral ornaments. Two removable shelves. Most probably it was a prototype of a large Art...
Category

1920s French Art Deco Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Early 20th Century Auntie Sally English Parlour Game
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century Auntie Sally English parlour game A rare early 20th Century example of an English hand-crafted Aunt Sally parlour game. Made from pine wood this item has 22 wooden throwing sticks, 1 aunt sally figure, several clay pipes...
Category

1920s British Late Victorian Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Pine

1920s Steelcraft "inter-city-bus" Antique Pressed Steel Truck
By Steelcraft Murray and Merritt Alcoaster Aluminum
Located in Buffalo, NY
1920s Steelcraft "inter-city-bus" antique pressed steel truck, wonderful original condition, color surface, patina.
Category

1920s American Art Deco Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Steel

English Jigger Doll
Located in London, GB
English Jigger Doll We are proud to offer an early 20th century hand carved folk art English jigger doll example. Carved from pine and joined with brass supports. Jig dolls are traditional wooden or tin-plate ‘toys’ for adults or children. Obtained from a private collection in London and untouched in form with all its original featured intact. They are dolls with loose limbs that step dance...
Category

1920s British Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Pine

Mid Century Tin Litho Windup Toy Skier Girl by Chein C1945
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous working tin Litho toy skier by the Chein toy co. C1945. In excellent vintage condition with minimal wear.
Category

1940s American Industrial Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

Ado Ko Verzuu Toy Crate Truck Holland 1948
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

Rare Antique Wooden Child's Ride on Wooden Toy Boat by Nautilus Toy Co. London
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare antique wooden child's ride on wooden toy boat by Nautilus Toy Co. London wonderful Folk Art object. 1920s ride on toy made by the Nautilus Toy Compan...
Category

1920s English Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Vintage French Toy "Les Acrobates", circa 1920
By G. Doloy
Located in Incline Village, NV
Rare 100 year old French toy in it's original box depicting two acrobats attached to a wire frame with brown barrel weights, cascading down a green metal ladder. Once assembled (loop...
Category

1920s French Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

Vintage Kings Guardsman Wood Toy by Kay Bojesen, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Wooden kings guardsman in lacquered beech. It was designed by Kay Bojesen in 1942. It features movable head, arms and legs and it still has it original riffle. This example was manuf...
Category

1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Beech

Mobo Toys Steel Riding Hobby Horse
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage, 1940s, painted, pressed steel hobby horse manufactured by Mobo Toys, England with casters on feet and excellent patina.
Category

1940s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Steel

Ado Ko Verzuu Toy Truck Houthandel, 1948
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very rare toy ‘houthandel’ (wood transport) truck designed by Ko Verzuu for Ado Holland in 1948. 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

1940s De Stijl Vintage Toys and Dolls

Seated "Cat with a Bow" Still Bank, American, circa 1922
By Grey Iron Casting Company
Located in Incline Village, NV
"Cat with a Bow Seated" cast iron still bank is a difficult bank to acquire and is listed in Andy Moore's "The Penny Bank Book" as #364 and rated a "D" (A to F rarity scale--A most c...
Category

1920s American Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

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

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

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

Pinocchio
Located in London, GB
Original artwork used to create the British front of house stills. Gouache on artboard. This original artwork features the films scene where Pinocchio is under the sea. Exceptionally rare. Original artworks rarely surface, as the majority were destroyed. Pieces on the Classic Disney films are always highly prized. This original artwork only recently surfaced, and was previously owned by an English lady, who had been given this piece in the 1940s. Prior to this discovery no other Pinocchio artwork for posters or front of house stills had been seen. Walt Disney's second animated feature film was made after the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, (1937). Pinocchio, the world’s most famous wooden puppet, is originally the creation of the Italian writer and social commentator Carlo Collodi. Entitled The Adventures of Pinocchio...
Category

1940s British Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Paint

Rustic American Rocking Horse
Located in New York, NY
A whimsical early American painted child's rocking horse. A fun piece that makes you smile, USA, circa 1920. M177.
Category

1920s American Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

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

Spelter Still Bank "Seated Cat with a Bow" German, circa 1920
Located in Incline Village, NV
The term "spelter" refers to a zinc/lead metal compound used to pour and make castings. Because of the thinness of the castings there is great detail to the subject matter of these banks. Spelter banks...
Category

1920s German Folk Art Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Spelter

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

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

Antique Original "Bathing Beauty" Flapper Figurine in Pebble Swimsuit
Located in Van Nuys, CA
The Circa 1920 Hertwig Germany all-bisque bathing beauty flapper figurine is a small collectible item from the early 20th century. It depicts a flapper-style woman wearing a low-cut...
Category

1920s Vintage Toys and Dolls

Materials

Ceramic

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.

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