Antique Toys

Toys are not only for the purpose of playing by children and toddlers but also are a very effective tool in educating them. Toys and related games or sports have caught fancy of grown ups as well. With the advent of computers and graphics, more sophisticated playtime toys and games have emerged. Playing with toys not only makes for a pastime but it also contributes as a constructive way of learning. Computer games and graphic games have proved this fact correct. Antique toys are the ones which are quite old. These may be hundred or even few centuries old. Archeological excavations have dug out antique toys from prehistoric ages like Stone Age. Toys can be an effective tool for out of classroom learning. Toys were even used by our ancestors and forefathers, though those were not so sophisticated but they managed to occupy the minds of the children and conveyed some morals and lessons to them. Toys like Dolls, Puppets were popularly used even 5000 years ago also. There have been instances where archeologists have found toys made of clay, and these antique toys date back to the period when man was a nomad and moved from place to place. These antique toys contribute as a major category in the antique collection class, though the better maintained toys which are considered as artifacts are sold at very high price. Some of which are not so expensive, can be procured at cheap price as well. Thus making this segment open and in buying capacity of common man.

Here people with not so affluent wealth can also participate. The toys or for that matter even antiques, take a person down the memory lane. Antique which in a silent way tell stories about the period long gone, become a part of the legacy from our ancestors? Toys instill a feeling of nostalgia, as these bring back one’s memory of childhood. Playing with toys or games has been a popular time pass as well as leisure activity for every generation gone by. The origin of the Olympics was due to the same craze and inclination of people towards sports and games. There is a sad part about games. The inception of football or soccer as we see it in today’ form is not how it was started. The story goes that a small king or rather an army attacked a mighty kingdom and when this dominating army defeated the smaller army the soldiers decided to teach a lesson to the world that nobody should ever think about attacking or dishonoring their kingdom. These soldiers beheaded the general of the defeated army and kicked around his head playfully, thus originated soccer. Not only this, there are several examples of brutality and cruelty associated with earlier sports. As the popular movie GLADIATOR depicts a gruesome act of man fighting animals like Lions and tigers for entertaining royals and public. These were changed as the modernization occurred. Royalty and kings ordered the toys to be made in Gold and Silver embedded with precious stones, for their children. Toys like models of swords, armory were popularly adored by people and children alike.

Tinplate toys were introduced in Americas and Europe in seventeenth or rather early eighteenth century. These became popular and were manufactured in large scale, not only to cater to the local market but also to quench the ever increasing export market across the globe. Plastic toys were introduced at the advent of 1900s. The main USP (Unique Selling Point) and subsequent popularity of plastic toys were their low cost and durability. Their light weight also was a plus. These were also considered as harmless with no sharp edges and loss or breakage of these did not put burden on the pocket of the consumer. In the ancient times, strategic games were invented to entertain and simultaneously instill the brain engrossing strategy making abilities in the person. The games like Chess, Chinese Chequers along with other board games were considered to be the games for the upper social class and the intellectuals. Playing cards were introduced as an entertaining game. As time elapsed more and more card games were introduced and added. Gambling and betting started on the card games afterwards. These antique toys can be procured from the local antique shops and the ones with better condition and rare can be attained after bidding at the auctions. An auction, as the term refers, is a process of selling an object after bidding. In other words the object is sold to the highest bidder after the fall of the hammer. Here the value or price of the antique is decided by the buyer and not by the seller. There are different kinds of auctions, one is, where there is a base level of price and the bid starts from this price and bids increase thereafter. An auction is closed when a particular bid is not challenged by any other bidder. The price of the antique is generally gauged through the perspective of the buyer in general. The other kind of auction is the one where there is no base pricing/ usually known as reserve price, put by the seller or auctioneer. These days the auction is conducted online as well, that is on the internet, with websites like e-bay, which provide a convenient platform to the seller as well as buyer to converge and interact. This has raised the auction to a new level. A prospective buyer can take part in the antique auction conducted online, while sitting in the far corner of the world and even then be an active part of the whole process. There are big auctioning houses which conduct such auctions across the world, like Sotheby’s, Christie’s. These companies not only conduct auctions or sell but also evaluate the antiques and artifacts for the convenience of all. They are even owners of some antiques. The nostalgia and awe related to an antique makes it more valued, and so does the rarity or extinction of the similar objects from the world. An antique toy should be kept with care and not used as other ordinary though expensive toys. These being part of the history should be respected.