Strange
how a toy evokes childhood, yet all toys were not made for children.
Clappers were originally designed to drive away evil spirits, dolls
to encourage fertility, corn-husk figures to promote a good harvest,
and intricate moving toys were invented to amuse rich men at their
banquets.
African rattles were mere seed pods. Greek knucklebones
were real bones, natural forked twigs were used in Australia while in
England wishing-bones and old clothes-pegs were dressed up and became
dolls.
Clay
was modelled very early on, especially by folk living near rivers
where plenty of mud was available. Minute pots and humped-back clay
animals came from regions north of India, jointed dolls from Greece;
there were also many birds which, when blown into, made a hollow
sound.
Sticks
and brooms ridden astride were the forerunners of the hobby horse.
Hoops came from discarded barrels, and in South America a little
wheel on a toy cart came before real wheels were used as a means of
locomotion.
VINTAGE TOY |
During
the 5th century B.C., many little figures were made depicting the
daily life of the inhabitants of Greece and Rome. Some were made of a
mixture of lead, tin and antimony, others from bronze or from clay.
Tin was added to harden the bronze and was in great demand, the
Phoenicians even going as far as Cornwall in their search for
materials.
During the Middle Ages, treasures retrieved from sunken ships included miniature domestic items, and during the 12th century A.D. boys played with toy knights manipulated by strings.
During the Middle Ages, treasures retrieved from sunken ships included miniature domestic items, and during the 12th century A.D. boys played with toy knights manipulated by strings.
Rattles
are probably among the oldest children's toys but it was not until
the 17th century that any substantial advances on their design were
made. Particularly delightful are the silver rattles of the 18th and
19th centuries with tiny bells attached and often incorporating a
whistle. Such rattles usually had coral handles for the baby to cut
his teeth on.
Handbells and drums were also popular in these centuries, the former appearing as pairs of handbells played by groups of children and sets of small bells each producing a different note hung together on a tree-like frame and provided with a small striking hammer.
Tin drums first appeared in the early 19th century and for a time became even more popular than skin drums.
Handbells and drums were also popular in these centuries, the former appearing as pairs of handbells played by groups of children and sets of small bells each producing a different note hung together on a tree-like frame and provided with a small striking hammer.
Tin drums first appeared in the early 19th century and for a time became even more popular than skin drums.
Copies
of pilgrims' badges were made as toys for children and lead soldiers
stood upright by means of boards with holes. These figures were made
in moulds, many of which have survived. Model trees were often sold
Hat and later bent into position.
The Hilpert family in Germany were famous for their animals and soldiers. Other makers were Gotts- chalk and Beck, both from Switzerland. Ernst Heinrichsen was busy in Nuremberg, and it was he who introduced the size of 3 cm (1^ in) for the metal figures and soldiers.
Another well-known toy maker, Allgeyer of Furth, also conformed to this scale from about 1848.
The Hilpert family in Germany were famous for their animals and soldiers. Other makers were Gotts- chalk and Beck, both from Switzerland. Ernst Heinrichsen was busy in Nuremberg, and it was he who introduced the size of 3 cm (1^ in) for the metal figures and soldiers.
Another well-known toy maker, Allgeyer of Furth, also conformed to this scale from about 1848.
Early
soldiers are flat and known as flats, though later ones are solid,
like the Churchill soldiers in Blenheim Palace which were made by a
Frenchman called Lucotte. The first hollow metal soldiers were made
in 1893 by William Britain, an Englishman.
VINTAGE TOY |
Little tin-plate German cars were assembled by means of tabs and slots, whereas those from France had the joints soldered. The more expensive cars of about 1908 had doors made to open am shut. Children's pedal cars came as early as 1906.
Rubber
was an ideal substance for balls and solid rubber balls were played
with in Mexico about A.D.700. Hollow animals and dolls were made in
two halves and often contained a squeaker, but rubber dolls have
never become popular being apt to fade and heavy to hold. Toy
aeroplanes were propelled by rubber bands.
Miniature
violins have been known almost from the time the full-size instrument
was invented. Until the later 19th century they were made with the
same precision as the normal violin and were intended to be played.
Miniature violins as well as guitars intended only as toys and simply making an appropriate noise were manufactured in considerable quantities towards the end of the 19th century. They were made in wood, papier-mache and tin, but it is usually only the more accurate instruments that are of interest to the collector.
Miniature violins as well as guitars intended only as toys and simply making an appropriate noise were manufactured in considerable quantities towards the end of the 19th century. They were made in wood, papier-mache and tin, but it is usually only the more accurate instruments that are of interest to the collector.
Probably
no other toy is more associated with the Edwardian Victorian nursery
than the doll's house. They have been known since the 16th century
and were probably first made in Nuremberg. The dolls' houses of the
late 18th and early 19th century are more attractive and detailed
than the later Victorian houses; to the Victorian child the
furnishings were more important than the house itself.
The interior of the lavishly- appointed Victorian house was often accurate to the last detail, from the perfect miniature carpets and curtains to the intricate hand-made furniture and upholstery.
The interior of the lavishly- appointed Victorian house was often accurate to the last detail, from the perfect miniature carpets and curtains to the intricate hand-made furniture and upholstery.
VINTAGE TOY |
Celluloid
was used for bath toys and for ping-pong balls. It was made famous by
the little Kewpie dolls designed by Rose O'Neill Wilson of the United
States in 1913. With their shiny tummies, wide open eyes and tiny
blue wings they were instantly appealing. In the heyday of celluloid,
pretty goldfish from Japan floated in many baths, but eventually all
celluloid
toys were banned because they were too inflammable. The material did,
however, lead to the present-day plastics.
Buzz
toys were introduced into the United States by British soldiers
towards the end of the 18th century. German immigrants introduced
arks, rocking horses and some of their dolls. Now, over the years,
various toys have gradually become associated with specific
countries.
These include nest toys and pecking toys from Russia, creche figures and marionettes from Italy, silver toys, wooden dolls' houses from the Netherlands, and arks from Bohemia. Early dolls' houses were known as baby houses.
These include nest toys and pecking toys from Russia, creche figures and marionettes from Italy, silver toys, wooden dolls' houses from the Netherlands, and arks from Bohemia. Early dolls' houses were known as baby houses.
VINTAGE TOY |
Germany
is noted for its toy soldiers and engines, France for fashion dolls
and strangely for cheap clockwork toys, Switzerland for intricate
automata and England for wax dolls and paper cut-outs. The United
States became known for cast-iron toys, intricate fire-engines, cap
pistols and Daisy guns.
Also from America came the first teddy bears, but gollywogs remain exclusively English.
Also from America came the first teddy bears, but gollywogs remain exclusively English.
Not
only toys are collected, now their boxes are collected also. Little
oval pinewood boxes are especially pretty and contain wooden animals
and figures. Cardboard boxes can also be attractive; both oval and
rectangular kinds appeared in the early 1880s, many with
interesting labels. In times of scarcity even net bags take their
place.
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