The History Of Toys

The study of toys can tell us a great deal about the simple domestic life of people long ago. For toys reflect the larger adult world, and over the years the whole progress of man’s social life is reproduced in miniature.

One of the first toys that a child plays with is a rattle, and rattles made from clay and earthenware have been found that date back to 1360 BC. In the ancient civilizations of Egypt and the Middle East there were dolls, some with movable arms and legs, although it is possible that these were sometimes made as religious effigies. There were certainly toy animals and some of these were jointed so that mouths could be made to open and shut, and tails to wag.

In the 16 th century, hobby-horses, hoops, marbles, pop-guns, stilts and money boxes were all popular toys. The earliest-known dolls’ houses date from the 17th century and originated in Germany. These dolls’ houses were very large and elaborately equipped with furniture, replicas of the homes in which they were kept.

In the 18th century jigsaw puzzles were invented and the rocking horse galloped into popularity. Towards the end of the century, mechanical toys began to appear, powered by water, steam or quicksilver.

The 19th century was an era learning and discovery and this was reflected in the toys. There was kaleidoscopes, stereoscopes and zoetropes, all toys which gave the illusion of depth and movement to flat images, and magic lanterns showing the wonders of nature. Magnetic toys were introduced early in the century, as were bubble pipes and, later on, inflatable and rubber toys.
Modern toys are often expensive, exact replicas of the real thing. Train sets, racing cars and washing machines-powered by electricity have perhaps taken some of the fun out of made believe.