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Toys and dolls are much more than mere playthings. They are valued collectibles owing to their association with human society, its myths, folklores, beliefs and legends. Mankind has always tried to recreate the world through their handicrafts and artifacts. Toys and dolls made of clay, wood, stones etc have been unearthed from almost all the early civilizations around the world. Figures of animals, human beings, folklore characters, gods and goddesses, pull toys, toy cart, trains, and string puppets were made from the early days of human civilization. These toys and dolls were much more than just entertainment. |
They were the repositories of custom, tradition, ancient wisdom, myths and beliefs – and in short – represented a slice of life. Different societies have crafted different kinds of toys and dolls. Wars, marriages, journeys, fables and fairies were recreated as toys and dolls – although the style and material varied from society to society.
Playing with handmade toys and fondling the collectible toys and dolls, the child learns his first lessons of survival and conduct. Replicating both the tangible and fantasy worlds, the toys and dolls map the socio-cultural history of any given society. From the simplest human figures carved out of stone, to the most modern G.I.Joes and Barbie dolls, civilization has moved on and on reflecting itself in its toys and dolls. Each toy, every doll, has its own story to tell. It only takes the inquisitive mind, a retentive brain and an imaginative person to hear the stories told by antique toys and dolls.
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