Fabulous Paper and Wood Toys

Wednesday, November 13, 2013
                      (Sunny and Very Cold)

Fabulous Paper and Wood Toys

   I'm always fascinated by how toys made of wood and lithographed paper seem to have lasted for so long. At a recently concluded Bertoia Auctions (November 8-10, 2013) auction , I came across today's group of these toys. What I especially like is how the lithographed paper had been so well illustrated, and has transferred to create the illusion of 3D. 

Please click here to visit Bertoia Auctions Fine website

The swimming pool and the building are quite interesting for depicting that era.The ladies (I assume they are) are wearing both bathing caps and the fuller swimming tops of that era, and the extepsive brick was common to that period of outdoor pools. 

What's interesting to observe among many of  the toys presented today is that warm -toned yellow theme. THe toys above are certainly interesting, but that "piece-de-resistance" is barn with its extensive detailing and ropes.

May toys like the one above would come with accessories such as the flat-shaped blocks presented above. The interesting part is that the toy had a removeable roof to store the parts. 

Another "piece de resistance" (I have to practise my French) is this fine set. The elephant is magically very realistic, and all of the animals have been hand painted. The oval illustrations on the side of the trailer are magnificent.  I'm sure every child who received tho particular set of toys would have been extremely happy!

Thanks for dropping by,

and have a great part of the day or night, 

wherever you may be.

Stacey 

toysearcher@gmail.com

Antique Paper Toys

Tuesday,  March 19, 2013

Antique Paper Toys

     If I've learned anything from writing about toys, it's that you can never make assumptions, and you'll always be surprised. Last week, I came across a paper toy. Of course, some toys are not 100% paper, but have lithographed paper on wood or cardboard. Other toys have paper with metal.  But the fact is that companies chose to use paper as a material for toys.

    My surprise is that most of the toys that I saw on Live Auctioneers and then at Bertoia Auctions is that almost all of the toys were in very good condition!  I know that I've seen plenty of puzzles (lithographed paper on thick cardboard) at garage sales. But, how often do people assemble a puzzle once it's been assembled once?

    It's hard to believe that these toys have not only lasted all these years,but that they haven't faded that much, and the paper hasn't separated from the  cardboard or wood backing. I'd like to know what glue they used? I know that whenever I've used that glue that glues anything, the only things I've managed to glue were my eyelashes shut on 1 eye! Fortunately, I was able to pry them loose!

     What's interesting about  the toys below is that many of them couls have been made of metal, but were in fact made from paper.

Click this sentence to go to Bertoia Auctions

      All I can say is that these toys are certainly amazing both for their original choice of material,and for the fact that  they are  beautifully illustrated. What's also interesting is that 2 of the toys could be used for storage.

Thanks for dropping by,

and ahve a great part of the day wherever you are now, 

and are reading this post.

Stacey