The Rise of TOYS

Toys. An abbreviation for “toy” or “toys that rhyme” that can conjure up anything from water guns to plastic action figures and everything in between.

A toy is an artifact of play, as distinguished from a game. One definition is something that amuses or delights; another is any small article of dress, decoration, jewelry etc., valued more for being pretty than effective as an instrument. A third definition is any object that has no other workmanlike use but serves to amuse (a person).

1. History.

Toy’s history begins in the womb of time. Archaeological remains have been found that date back to 9,000 BC. The earliest toy stone carving, a bear’s head, was found in Scotland and dates back to the 11th century AD.

2. Prehistoric Discovery:

The first toys were probably only rudimentary – things used for primitive communication or for scratching the itches – but there is no doubt that playing with toys has been recognized as a passive form of activity involving enjoyment, skill and creativity from quite early times. Archaeological finds of toys in prehistory have been made in Britain and at least one ancient sculpture has been found of a toy representing an elephant.

One of the oldest toys is the “ball”, or “lion’s head” as it is sometimes called (though the lion itself did not appear until much later), a bone-casing covered with leather that dates back to about 4000 BC.

3. Ancient History:

The rest was history from the beginning, but very little was written and most of this was in Egyptian hieroglyphics. The Egyptians left us their little figures. These were made of clay and fired in the symbolic shape of a tree. The earliest of these were probably designed to represent animals and many of them are still to be found in museums in Europe.

The oldest known toy doll is a human figure, carved from ivory and found in an ancient tomb at Thebes, Egypt. It was dated to about 3200 BC — about 3000 years before the first known toys from China or Europe.

4 . Ancient Greek History:

The first toys were probably only rudimentary – things used for primitive communication or for scratching the itches – but there is no doubt that playing with toys has been recognized as a passive form of activity involving enjoyment, skill and creativity from quite early times. Archaeological finds of toys in prehistory have been made in Britain and at least one ancient sculpture has been found of a toy representing an elephant.

One of the oldest toys is the “ball”, or “lion’s head” as it is sometimes called (though the lion itself did not appear until much later), a bone-casing covered with leather that dates back to about 4000 BC.

5. Ancient Chinese History:

A constant theme in the history of toys can be seen in the playthings or miniatures that were produced by ancient cultures. Clay figures and toys made of clay, wood and stone have been found in many parts of the world, some fashioned as animals with movable limbs, others modeled after human beings. Many primitive peoples made use of natural objects for their children’s playthings. They shaped a piece of wood to resemble an animal and perhaps added feathers or shells for decoration. A favorite ancient toy was one that could be inflated by blowing into it and then would “pop” upon release, in imitation of a cork from a wine bottle.

6. Ancient Roman History:

The Romans produced many child’s toys for their own youngsters. Many were made of metal and could either be hung on the wall or worn as jewelry. The metal hoop was a popular item for children to play with; it fit easily over the head and was large enough to offer room for the hands to be inserted into it. Some miniature lances, swords, shields and other armor were designed for children rather than soldiers.

Toy trumpets were fashioned from uncouth gourds when none but natural materials could be found; these instruments often had animal faces painted on them with which children could impersonate the call of a variety of animals.

7. Ancient Japanese History:

In Japan the first toys were little dolls of clay or wood. They were sometimes made to represent birds, animals and people. These toys were given to infants as a gift on their first birthday; this practice was followed in other parts of the world until little boys and girls learned how to make their own toys.

8. Ancient Egyptian History:

The Egyptians left us their little figures. They were made of clay and fired in the symbolic shape of a tree. The earliest of these were probably designed to represent animals and many of them are still to be found in museums in Europe.

9 . The Middle Ages:

The toys of the middle ages were generally made from wood, bone and ivory. These toys were then brightly colored by hand with paints made from natural substances. Most of these toys had a religious significance rather than being playthings for children. The cross, for example, was a favorite subject for toy soldiers who fought the infidel.

10. The Renaissance:

During the renaissance period there was a revival in the making of playing cards, dolls and other toys which had been popular during medieval times, but they were now mass-produced instead of being hand-made by craftsmen and women.