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Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

NEOCLASSICAL STYLE

Neoclassical design emerged in Europe in the 1750s, as the Age of Enlightenment reached full flower. Neoclassical furniture took its cues from the styles of ancient Rome and Athens: symmetrical, ordered, dignified forms with such details as tapered and fluted chair and table legs, backrest finials and scrolled arms.

Over a period of some 20 years, first in France and later in Britain, neoclassical design — also known as Louis XVI, or Louis Seize — would supersede the lithe and curvaceous Rococo or Louis XV style.

The first half of the 18th century had seen a rebirth of interest in classical antiquity. The "Grand Tour" of Europe, codified as a part of the proper education of a patrician gentleman, included an extended visit to Rome. Some ventured further, to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. These drawings and others — particularly those derived from the surprising and rich archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and ’40s at the sites of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum — caused great excitement among intellectuals and aesthetes alike.

Neoclassical furniture is meant to reflect both grace and power. The overall appearance of neoclassical chairs, tables and cabinetry is strong and rectilinear. These pieces are, in effect, classical architecture in miniature: chair and table legs are shaped like columns; cabinets are constructed with elements that mirror friezes and pediments.

Yet neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, sheaves of arrow, medallions and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.

As you can see from the furniture on these pages, there is a bit of whimsy in such stately pieces — a touch of lightness that will always keep neoclassicism fresh.

Find antique neoclassical furniture today on 1stDibs.

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Style: Neoclassical
19th C Original Painted Decorated Doll or Jewelry Chester Drawers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C original painted decorated doll or jewelry chester drawers. Decorated in the 20's or 30's.
Category

19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood, Paint

Vintage Mniature Dollhouse Blue Cottage Fully Furnished
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Vintage handmade blue cottage miniature dollhouse , fully decorated and with lights.
Category

1950s American Vintage Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

20 Vintage Madame Alexander 8” Dolls Restrung Collection
Located in Boca Raton, FL
20 Beautiful unique Vintage Madame Alexander 8” dolls, in great condition, all original dresses. Newly restrung. Great find for collectors.
Category

1960s American Vintage Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Textile

19thC Cast Iron Mechanical Owl Bank with a Turning Head and Glass Eyes, 1880
By Shepard Hardware Company
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous cast iron Owl bank with a turning head coin lever and glass eyes. Lot of the original paint still intact. Missing the lock on the underside, not visi...
Category

1880s American Antique Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

Antique Christmas Sledge With Toys Dolls Teddy Bears
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Antique artisan made Christmas wagon brimming with dolls, toys, teddy bears. Unique Holiday collectible.
Category

1950s American Vintage Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

Vintage Wooden Jaymar Toy on Wheels, circa 1930
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Classic Jaymar Wooden Pull Along Toy from the 1930's. The toy features a boy sitting atop four wheels. This vintage child's toy is a wonderful piece to add to a current collection or...
Category

Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

Antique Articulating Teddy Bear Driving Wagon Platform Pull Toy Americana
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique wheeled platform articulating pull toy featuring a teddy bear stuffed animal seated in a red white and blue wagon with arms that move up and down a...
Category

Early 20th Century Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Mohair, Hardwood

Miniature Artisan Valentines Room Box Dollhouse
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Unique whimsical artist made one of a kind Valentines miniature room box. Designed in a wooden frame with miniature dollhouse furniture, passamenter...
Category

1960s American Vintage Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

Artisan Toys Dolls 3 Little Piglets Stuffed Toys
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Artisan made handcrafted brocade beige textile stuffed figurines of 3 little piglets, with brass bells and bead eyes. Unique collectible toys.
Category

1990s American Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Textile

Christmas Toys Santa Claus Christmas Miniature Tree w Lights
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Christmas Toys display of artisan made Christmas boot with miniature Christmas tree with lights battery operated, and Handcarved Wooden Santa Claus figu...
Category

1950s American Vintage Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

Christmas Santa Claus Bench Tree Christmas Wagon with Toys
Located in Boca Raton, FL
One of a kind Christmas Holiday installation display with Children’s bench, sitting Santa Claus in velvet outfit, small 24” Christmas tree decorated with European glass minis ornaments and Christmas toys...
Category

1950s American Vintage Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

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 Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Vintage Miniature Toys Fruit Market Stand Artisan Made
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Vintage miniature toys artisan made Fruit vegetables market stand. Lavishly decorated. Collectible
Category

1950s American Vintage Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Ceramic

Antique wooden Roulette game wheel with applied figures
Located in Milano, IT
Immerse yourself in the charm of a bygone era with this exquisite antique wooden game, a true testament to the beauty and craftsmanship of yesteryear. This extraordinary game feature...
Category

1830s Italian Antique Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Related Items
19thC Double Horse Pull Toy on Iron Wheels
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc all original double horse pull toy with original iron wheels and red painted wood base. The condition is worn but in good condition.
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Linen, Wood

Antique Dollhouse Pewter Bird Cage with Bird, By Babette Schweizer, Germany
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An outstanding bird cage in painted soft metal with a colorful Bird. To hang in your dollhouse or to put on a table in a salon or a parlor. Made of pewter. Nice for every decoration...
Category

1910s German Vintage Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Glass

19th C. Large Fine Figured Wood Chest of Drawers
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The top made of book matched figured wood with cross banding and fine herringbone string inlay. With a bull nose edge. The tall chest with two short over three long drawers with book matched fronts and matching herringbone string inlays, and fine pierced brass bales and a key. The carved skirt rail raised on all bracket feet. Measures Width. 47 1/2", Depth 23", Height. 45 1/4" Condition: Please see all detail photos. The chest top with some expected scratches and some loss to the finish, slight alligatoring, chipped top front edge corners, some chips and breaks to the drawer moldings (a few preserved for...
Category

19th Century Antique Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Brass

Wooly Sheep Pull Putz Toy Antique German Christmas 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Antique German Putz stick-legged sheep on a wooden platform with metal wheels. It is a genuine antique German Christmas toy. As it is old, it show the e...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Composition

Tin Toy, Bear with Tambourine
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Tin toy, Bear with tambourine, not working, to be restored, very decorative. Measures: H: 24 cm, W: 19 cm, D: 19 cm.
Category

20th Century French Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

Tin Toy, Bear with Tambourine
Tin Toy, Bear with Tambourine
H 9.45 in W 7.49 in D 7.49 in
"Organ Bank" with Cat and Dog, circa 1882, American
By Kyser & Rex Co.
Located in Incline Village, NV
This American cast iron bank known as "Organ Bank" (Cat and Dog), was manufactured by Kyser & Rex Company, Frankford, Pennsylvania in 1882. It conforms exac...
Category

1880s American Antique Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

Steiff Collectible Teddy Bear Toy Store Kober Vienna exclusive, Vintage Austria
Located in Nuernberg, DE
The Classic 1920 Teddybear is the perfect gift for every Steiff lover. The teddy bear is made of the finest mohair and is stuffed with wood shavings. This product is not a toy and is...
Category

1980s German Vintage Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Mohair

19th Century Victorian Burled Walnut Chest of Drawers
Located in Forney, TX
A 19th century Victorian burled walnut marble topped chest of drawers with warm, rich patina. The beautifully aged antique commo...
Category

19th Century Antique Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Marble, Brass

2 Miniature Picture Frames Erhard & Söhne Antique German Dollhouse Toy 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare Set of two Pictures framed in Gold plated ormulu frames is a must-have for Dollhouse and Doll collectors and enthusiasts alike. With its beautiful intricate design, it is suitable for any room and adds a touch of elegance to your Dollhouse. You will get 2 Erhard and Söhne Frames and one framed pictures with a landscape to place it in your dollhouse. Made of high-quality gold-plated metal and handmade by skilled craftsmen, this original piece is a testament to the rich history of German toys. Whether you're a fan of entertainment or vintage items, this Erhard & Söhne dollhouse toy...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal, Gold Plate

19th Century Painted Italian Commode
Located in Vista, CA
19th century painted Italian commode. An Italian polychrome faux-marble top neoclassic commode 19th century the faux-marble top above three drawers all resting on tapering legs. Deco...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

Lavishly-Filled German Wooden Grocery Dollhouse Store Toy 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful grocery shop room box, painted and stained wood with lithographed wall and floor papers, side stair case and upper gallery, some drawers on rear w...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Porcelain, Fabric, Wood

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 Vintage Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Bentwood

1930s Austrian Horse Toy
1930s Austrian Horse Toy
H 25 in W 29 in D 9 in
Previously Available Items
Spectacular Vintage Christmas Toy Wagon
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Vintage Christmas Toy- small wagon brimming with toys and gifts.
Category

1960s Japanese Vintage Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Textile, Wood

Collection of Vintage Steiff Animals
Located in Redding, CT
Collection of Vintage Steiff Animals. The set of 5 animals consists of a pig, horse, turtle, tiger, and squirrel. Perfect for that collector. Only the h...
Category

1960s Vintage Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wool, Plastic

Set of Eight West Point Cadets in Box by W. Britain
By W. Britain
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of 8 West Point Cadets in box by W. Britain. One with loose arm/rifle. Winter dress. Pre-WWII. Original Whisstock box, as found. Box: 14.75" x 3.5" ...
Category

Early 20th Century English Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

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 Vintage Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

9 Lead & Pewter Military Figurines Toy Soldier Officer Stadden Greenwood Ball 3"
Located in Dayton, OH
"Lot of nine vintage and antique pewter / lead toy soldiers representing a variety of eras from the Revolutionary War to post-World War II; five are by C.C. Stadden (British red coat with a peaked cap hand over sword and leaning on a musket, labeled “British Grenadier 1777 Revolutionary”/ British red coat with peaked cap holding a musket, labeled “Delaney’s Loyal (Tokies) Regiment Revolution”/ Revolutionary War era British red coat with a musket on his shoulder and a tricorn hat / post WWII soldier holding a map, labeled “USA Modern”/ Civil War era Union Cavalry officer with a sword holding a map), one by Greenwood and Ball (World War I era German soldier with a sword on his hip reading a map), and three uncertain (Civil War era Union soldier in a slouch hat and holding a rifle, labeled “US Reg. Infantry Full Dress 1861”/ American soldier at attention in a blue uniform, labeled “USA 1948”/ Napoleonic French(?) Imperial Guard grenadier). “Greenwood & Ball was started in 1938 by John Greenwood (sculptor) and Katherine Ball (painter). Katherine Ball left the company in 1961 to get married. The company was one of the first to start selling 25mm scale figures. John Greenwood sold the company to W.F. Pearce in 1971 and the company name carried on as a brand. The majority of the 25mm figure ranges were most recently owned by Amazon Miniatures. Other sculptors to work for them included: Al Charles, John Braithwaite, Cliff Sanderson, and John Tassell.” “Charles C Stadden (always known to friends and family as Chas) was born in Leytonstone, London on 12th June 1919. His parents were Francis Stadden and Emily James who had been married on 10th February 1912 in West Ham Registry Office. Francis Stadden had served in the Middlesex Regiment and the Devonshire Regiment during WW1 attaining the rank of Company Sergeant Major. In peacetime he was employed as a stationers manager for Strakers of London. Chas had three older brothers, Frank, Arthur (always known as Gyp) and Victor (Vic) and a younger sister, Pearl. Having such a background of military service must have made an impression on the four young Stadden boys. Two of Emilys sisters were married to servicemen, and while Chas was a young boy his mother had taken him on visits by train to Chichester where his Aunt Louise lived while her husband Augustus (in the RAMC) was stationed at the barracks there. His childhood was a happy one living in Epsom Road, Leytonstone, close to Epping Forest, and then during the 1930’s at Gordon Road, Wanstead. He was educated at Canterbury Road School in Leyton and had an interest in things military from an early age. Christmas presents were usually toy soldiers, and his father used to bring Chas postcards depicting military uniforms when he came home from work. Another lifetime interest was steam trains, which began when Chas and Vic used to play at Snaresbrook level crossing pulling on the railings pretending to be signalmen. Chas left school at 14 (despite gaining an art scholarship) to work as a Liftboy at Martins Bank, 68 Lombard Street, London. He was dismissed within two years for causing £400 worth of damage to one of the lifts while 'larking about' with one of the heavy ledger trolleys. To avoid telling his parents of being given the sack he decided to join the military at Stratford while still underage. Chas thought he was destined to be a trumpeter in the Royal Artillery and lasted 40 days until his mother Emily managed to retrieve him. His second spell of civilian employment as a switchboard operator also ended in dismissal due to ‘larking about’. At this time Chas was a keen racing cyclist and obtained a summer job building racing bikes which was his introduction to light engineering. Although he enjoyed this work, at the end of the season he was laid off and had to take work as a parking attendant and nightwatchman. In the summer of 1939 he returned to the cycle trade until called up to military service under the Militia Act at the age of 20, enlisting on 1st December. He passed the medical A1 fitness but was found to be slightly shortsighted. This meant that he was unable to join the infantry (preferably the Lancashire Fusiliers) as he wanted but was instead sent to restart his military career at the 7th Drivers Training Centre RASC, Luton. During his full time military service Chas was with the Royal Army Service Corps (Horse Transport), The Cyprus Regiment and the Royal Fusiliers...
Category

Mid-20th Century Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Pewter

Antique Early American Miniature Salesman Sample Dresser Chest of Drawers 12"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique miniature doll sized / salesman sample chest of drawers with brass knobs and a scalloped backsplash.
Category

Early 20th Century Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Hardwood

19th Century Traditional American Children's Dual Horse Pull Toy
Located in Middleburg, VA
19th century American traditional children's dual horse pull toy Made of fabric with wood planks with wheels Measures: 10.25" H, 10.5" W, 7.5" D.
Category

19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Antique Cast Iron Bulldog Piggy Money Bank Painted in Brown, 1920s
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
An antique cast iron bulldog piggy bank. Created in the 1920s, this piece is painted in brown and cream. And would make a fabulous addition to a nurs...
Category

1920s American Vintage Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Iron

2 Miniature Mother of Pearl Toy Pin Fire Cap Gun Pistol Keychain Japan Watch Fob
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage miniature pin fire cap gun pair with mother of pearl on the handles, made in Japan with small ring on top of the barrel for use as a key chain or watc...
Category

Late 20th Century Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Vintage Lubas & Sohn Harmonika, Pre 1918
Located in Manhasset, NY
Vintage Lubas & Sohn Harmonika, Pre 1918. Good condition, playable, missing neck band. This finely crafted musical instrument is simply stunning in its marquetry inlaid case. Price ...
Category

Early 20th Century German Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Wood

Antique Primitive Early American Miniature Salesman Sample Walnut Doll Bed
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Primitive early American miniature salesman sample walnut bed with two pillows. Measures: 18".   
Category

19th Century Antique Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Walnut

The Executive Toy YO-YO-Sterling Silver Repoussé by The Gorham Mfg. Co.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An executive vintage toy in sterling silver repoussé by the Gorham Manufacturing Company of Providence Rhode Island. The design is of acanthus leaves which is a nod to neoclassicism....
Category

1960s American Vintage Neoclassical Toys and Dolls

Materials

Sterling Silver, Steel

Neoclassical toys and dolls for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Neoclassical toys and dolls for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage toys and dolls created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, folk art, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Neoclassical toys and dolls made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for toys and dolls differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $350 and tops out at $2,785 while the average work can sell for $640.

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