Figure 1.--Here we see a French boy with his toy soldiers. At least until World War I this seems to have been a favorite. I suspect French parents no longer approce. Here a boy who seems to be wearing a Zouave uniform has set up French and German soldiers. The postcard is undated, but was probably made before World War I. Note the toy cannon.

We do not have a lot of information on French toys yet. Many toys are similar from country to country. With France, commercial post cards are a useful source of information. We also note a La Samaritaine from the 1930s which illustrates popular toys. We seem to commonly note teddy bears (nomurs), blocks, bowling pins (skettles), drums, pull toys, puzzles, toy planes, trins, and cars. Toy soldiers seem to have been a real favorite, al least before World war I. We also notice toys and a game called diablo which seems destinctively French. Dress up costumes, especially Indian gear, also appears popular. Of course the popularity of various toys has changed over time. We will collect here what ever information we can find about French toys. Hopefull our French readers will tell us more.

Sources of information

We do not have a lot of information on French toys yet. Many toys are similar from country to country. With France, commercial post cards are a useful source of information. We also note a La Samaritaine from the 1930s which illustrates popular toys. We will collect here what ever information we can find about French toys. Hopefull our French readers will tell us more.

Chronology

Of course the popularity of various toys has changed over time. WE have just begun to work on this secrion. We note a 15th century codex with a page showing aristocratic children with a stick horse, lannce, and sword. We note various paintings depicting toys. Only with with the invention of photography (mid-19th century) do we begin to get large numbers of images with chikdren and their toy. tvfirst nist were studio images, so we are bever entirely sure if they are actually the childs's toy or a studio prop. Rge imagevhere is a commeecial postcard. With the appearance of the famiky sbapshot we begin to gert kargevninvers of images oursude the studio in realistic settings, including playband toys.

Specific Toys

We note a wide range of French toys in the photographic record. We seem to commonly note teddy bears (nomurs), blocks, bowling pins (skettles), drums, pull toys, puzzles, toy planes, trins, and cars. Toy soldiers and toy guns seem to have been a real favorite, at least before World war I. We suspect French parents no longer approve. We also see puppets and marionettes. We notice toys and a game called diablo which seems destinctively French. Dress up play costumes, especially Indian gear, also appears popular. The boy here wears an elaborate Zouave costume. This is of course a commercial post card. Few boys actually had elaborate costumes like this. Girls of course liked dolls. Baby carriages were popular accessories.

Created: 12:50 AM 3/21/2006
Last updated: 12:50 AM 3/21/2006