History:

History of Toys

History of Toy Libraries

History of Toys:

The oldest known toy is a ball or globular shape, which was often made from deer hide and animal organs, such as inflated sheep and goat bladders.  Other early toys were made of such materials as wood, clay, ivory, gold, and papyrus reeds.  Toys can be traced back to the Egyptians in the 12^th century.

In Ancient Egypt children were well provided with toys; such as balls, tops, and pull along animals, made from a variety of materials. Common  toys were imitations of real life objects, and may have had religious or ritual significance.  Small  horse figures are recognized as one of the most popular playthings throughout history.   In many primitive cultures animals had cultural and religious importance, and ownership of  horses was an economic status symbol.  It is not uncommon to find horse figures as toys among the Egyptians, the Navaho and the Apache.  Boats are another common relic recognized by historians as an early toy.  In many cultures the object of a boat had ritual significance.  Toy boats are similar to toy horses in that they are commonly found among primitive cultures for whom the life-size object/animal had great significance.  Another object commonly found in earlier cultures is small figures we refer to as dolls.  As with horses and boats the small doll-like figures had religious or ritual significance. The earliest surviving doll-like figures are not believed to have been used as toys. More commonly,  they had religious significance and were used in funerals. Some scholars do not recognize early doll-like figures as toys due to the fact that they are not found in the graves of children of the prehistoric period.  The small figures became more widely recognized as children's toys in later generations.

Little is known about toys in the Middle Ages. The small amount of miniature objects that have survived from the 12^th and 13^th centuries are primitive dolls, toy horses, and toy knights.  A few literary and pictorial sources also mention tops and rattles.  It is not until the 16^th century that historians are more fully informed about “playthings.”  References to playthings, or toys, can be found in the literature and art of the 16^th century.  The French writer and priest, François Rabelais, mentions windmills and a stable of toy horses in his piece titled "Gargantua and Pantagruel."  The 16^th century painter, Pieter Bruegel, created the painting, Kinderspeil, (translation: "Children's Games"); showing images of children playing with bats and balls, cups and balls, whiptops, and ropes.

BRUEGHEL, Pieter
Children's Games
1560
Oil on oak panel
118 x 161 cm
Kunsthistorisches Museum Wein, Vien
 

In the latter part of the 16^th century it was not uncommon for the aristocracy to employ craftsman to make miniatures for their children. These miniatures were commonly made of fine wood and precious stones. Examples of these toy are:  soldiers made of silver, or even gold; and copies of domestic and kitchen articles, to be used in the children's “baby houses”. 

In the 19^th century toys became more advanced.  As technology developed,  mechanical toys became popular. The use of sheet metal stamping in Nuremberg in 1850 introduced the first large scale manufacturing methods for building toys. Skilled craftsmen, who specialized in toy-making, developed walking dolls, moving animals, and performing groups, often with musical sounds and movement. 

The mid-19^th century saw the introduction of a variety of new toys due to continuous advances in production techniques. This period came to be referred to as the “Golden Age of Toys”. German toy-makers, known for their inventiveness, created intriguing designs for knickknacks or “penny toys”.  These toys were used in educational games that were developed to replicate the popularity of science.   The 20^th century continued to produce a variety of new toys. As technology kept changing and growing, so did toys.  Also, during this period new technologies and manufacturing capabilities allowed for mass production of  toys, which made them increasingly available to the middle class. 

Today, modern production  techniques continue to increase the amount and the variety of toys available. Toys have become more complex throughout the modern period with scientific and technological advancements such as: electronics, magnetism,  and dry–cell batteries.  Two new developments have been seen in the 20th century.  First, toys are being produced specifically for specialized educational uses.  For example, in the 1970's new toys were created following the theories of Montessori and Froebel.  Second, there has been a revival of "classic" simple toys of the type seen in previous centuries. 

Toys have undergone many changes over the centuries;  from the simple inflated animal bladder used as a ball to the high tech battery powered toys of today.  Dramatic changes have taken place in the way toys are manufactured and used, and in the materials they are made from, allowing them to be available to the millions of people around the world. 

History of Toy Libraries:

Organized toy libraries have been around since the 1930's.  The Los Angeles Public Library is credited with having the first toy collection in a public library, starting in 1937.  Toy libraries were quite popular in the 1960's and have expanded in use since then.  Generally created out of response to the needs of potential users, toy libraries tend to serve special populations. 

Community Toy Libraries

 Apple Tree Landing Community Centre

 Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library.

Lekoteks

National Lekotek Center