Luxury items such as rocking horses, dollhouses, and Noah’s Arks were exclusive to the wealthy, while elaborately dressed dolls were so expensive and delicate that children were often forbidden to play with them. With the average wage in 1900 being just £1 per week (equivalent to approximately £74.39 today – $98), many toys were simply out of reach for most families. A well-crafted dollhouse could cost £1. 12s. 6d (about $160 today), making it a rare possession for ordinary working-class households. Children from poorer families were sent to work at an early age, leaving little time for leisure. Even in more affluent homes, children were expected to contribute by helping around the house, and playing was often considered unproductive. Early in the century, toys—particularly in wealthier households—were valued primarily for their educational benefits. Dolls and dollhouses were intended to teach girls household management skills, while “dissected puzzles” and card games were used to promote factual learning. As the century progressed, attitudes toward play began to shift, coinciding with the growth of industrialization. This allowed more families to afford the emerging variety of toys available in the market. Mass production, especially from Germany, introduced cheaper tin toys, while mechanical toys such as clockwork trains and lead soldiers gained popularity. Toy soldiers and figurines have been popular since the medieval period, used by both children and adults to stage battle scenes. In the 18th century, lead toy soldiers were first molded in Germany due to lead’s affordability and availability, though its toxicity was unknown at the time. Tin later replaced lead for greater durability. Early figures were flat and less than a millimeter thick, standing on small bases. In 1893, British toymaker William Britain introduced hollow, rounded soldiers, which were lighter and easier to produce. These toys became highly popular, with many sold unpainted for children to customize. Automata were mechanical toys from the Victorian era that moved without batteries, using methods like pushing, pulling, clockwork, or elastic bands to create motion. These toys featured rotating figures or other moving parts, often driven by turning a handle or winding a mechanism. While some automata were complex wind-up toys with internal workings, many were simpler, with visible mechanisms that powered their movements. Jumping Jack figures, jointed and made from cardboard or thin wood, were popular with Victorian children. These figures were often used in toy theaters to act out plays or pantomimes they had attended. Early English pantomimes featured characters like Harlequin, Columbine, Pantaloon, and the Clown, who were central to the ‘Harlequinade’ section of the performance. Toy theaters evolved from the tradition of cutting and collecting printed sheets of theatrical figures. Realistic toy bears were popular long before the iconic “Teddy” bear made its debut in the early 20th century. These early bears were often designed to look fierce, with sharp teeth and intimidating expressions. Bears held cultural significance in many countries, such as Russia, where they were known as “Mishka,” and England, where they were called “Bruin.” The familiar Teddy bear didn’t emerge until 1903, when U.S. President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was featured in a cartoon after refusing to shoot a bear during a hunting trip. Inspired by this, Morris Michtom, founder of the Ideal Toy Corporation in America, created a line of stuffed bears with button eyes, naming them “Teddy’s Bears.” They became an instant hit, leading to mass production. Dolls have existed for thousands of years, with examples found in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. In the Victorian era, dolls were crafted from a variety of materials, including rags, wood, papier-mâché, wax, and porcelain. Porcelain dolls were often dressed in elaborate period clothing and were more for display than play. Wax dolls, which were more affordable, often had papier-mâché bodies coated with a thin layer of wax to create more lifelike features. Many dolls combined materials, such as porcelain or “bisque” (unglazed china) heads with papier-mâché or leather bodies, making them popular with both boys and girls. Victorian girls often made clothes for their dolls, as sewing was a common skill. Dolls’ houses, which date back at least 500 years, saw a surge in popularity during the 19th century, as the growing middle class sought high-quality toys for their children. These dollhouses featured intricately decorated interiors and furniture made from wood or tin.
(Photo credit: Mitch Young via flickr.com/photos/mirrorimagegallery / Chertsey Museum / RHP). Notify me of new posts by email.
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