File:Toy tree (AM 72292-2).jpg

Set of village and fairground toys- carved and hand painted wooden figures, houses, trees, fairground stalls and animals; made in Germany, c.1850; typical of mid 19th century German handmade toys which gained popularity throughout the world; produced by peasant families in cottage industries; whilst known as ‘penny beasts’ by their purchasers, were often referred as ‘misery beasts’ by those who worked long hours on them for a pittance. The donor record about this toy village-fair states 'Made in Germany c 1850'. Germany with its long tradition of wooden folk toy making produced vast quantities of high quality carved and painted wooden farms, zoos and circuses from 1850 to 1890. Throughout Germany cottage industries developed, in which whole peasant families were involved in the time absorbing production of handmade wooden toys. Often they limited themselves to specializing in the production of a small range of types, later copying from the most popular designs; leading to the erosion of regional individuality. Constructed of wood and paper mache they were often very fragile and easily damaged. The production of wooden animals and wildlife was encouraged by a large public interest in the unusual animals displayed in zoos; and by tales of adventure by travellers to distant and wonderful lands. However, from the 1900s a greater interest in contemporary transport - cars and trains by children emerged, causing the German production of animal-based scenes to lose much of its impetus and popularity. Sources- Penny Armstrong and Denise Jackson, Toys of Early New Zealand; Constance Eileen King, The Encyclopedia of Toys; Robert Cuff, The World of Toys .

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