Author: Ana Dajic, MA ethnologist antropologist
On play and toys
When we reminiscence of our childhoods, we always think about the nice things – carefree life, imagination and play. And most of our play was done with toys. However, how much do we know about them? John Locke was the first to say that “toys are not mere trinkets and they should be thought of as objects given to children in order to educate them”1. The toys are among the first objects that define us and constitute the “material factors of play”, they exist everywhere on this planet, in various quantities, shapes and forms, portraying the culture and the period of their origin and therefore providing an insight into the diverse conditions of their appearance.2 The toys may tell us a lot about the background, status and social position of users, providing an insight on the economic power of their country of origin, the desired
social and cultural values they should promote, the technical achievements of the period, the gender roles they intend to promote, or the religious practices represented in that culture. And both the culture and the studied period of time may tell us a lot about the political and societal circumstances when the play and the childhood took place. A rough classification would include mechanical (mobile), educative, decorative, plush toys, sport equipment, board games, dolls, vehicles and many others. And one of the most popular types in this wide range of toys are constructor toys, with a recyclable ability, as the already used material may be reused with a different purpose each time. This group includes board puzzles, various stackable geometric shapes, model and replica kits, and last but not the least, building bricks.
Building bricks are perhaps one of the oldest toys and at first they were made out of natural materials, mostly wood and terracotta, and later out of ceramics, rubber, sponge or plastics, and used as a learning tool in studying writing, geometry, physics and gravity. The building bricks gradually became painted and the system of stacking became more complex, while since the 19th century they became a part of a compulsory inventory in kindergartens and schools. Wooden building bricks were used to make simple objects, while with development of toy industry plastic materials became the most used, leading type of material.
Toy industry was started in the 14th century in southern Germany in the city of Nuremberg, which is to this day known for the largest toy museum and toy fair. Until then the craftsmen in carpenter shops would mostly produce wooden figurines shaped as toys or other natural motifs, while from 18th century the focus group became the representatives of middle class, necessitating production of more sophisticated toys such as miniature kitchen elements or stylized soldiers. The clockwork toys appeared only in the 19th century, leading to significant increase in complexity of their use. In spite of accelerated development and progress
regarding the quality, the toys did not become a “big business” until 1830, when steam ships and steam locomotives improved the transport and distribution of produced goods. The transitional period toward the 20th century is believed to be the golden age of industrial development, mass production and demand for toys. After the Second World War, the technological advancements have allowed use of various materials based on plastics and rubber, enabling the diversification of use, quality, possibilities and accessibility.
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