wooden toys for children are created with a lot of love and meticulousness
Wooden toys from the Erzgebirge are particularly valuable in education and should not be missing in any children's room. Our children's toys made of wood come in the original directly from Seiffen and the region around called toy angle of the Erzgebirge. As always, they are designed in an extremely loving way and with the precision known from the Erzgebirge. Choose the right wooden toy for your little ones and support your children in a natural way. We are happy to help you with the decision-making process or design, you are also welcome to do something very individual. Please do not hesitate to contact us.
wooden toys to touch and experience
The connection to nature is positively promoted by seeing, feeling and smelling the natural material wood. Other advantages are the longevity and stability of the wooden toy, as children often do not handle it considerately.
After the little ones already had their first motor experiences with wooden blocks and construction kits, they can now playfully enjoy other wooden toys. Such as, for example: on the most diverse jumping jacks, waddle animals for pushing or even on the slightly more challenging games of skill such as dance spinning.
The Erzgebirge can look back on a long tradition in toy production and wood art, which dates back to the 18th century. With the extensive decline of mining, especially tin mining, the miners' families were forced to supplement their income with additional earnings. While the tin stocks were becoming less and less, there was enough wood in the region.
Because of the creativity and skills of the miners in dealing with wood as well as the increasing popularity of children's toys in bourgeois circles, the production of wooden toys became a successful source of income. In the following centuries, wooden toy production developed into a unique folk art that is now known worldwide.
When did wooden toys come about?
The beginning of wooden toy production is estimated to be around 1750. Making toys means however, not the general beginning of woodworking: as early as the year 1500, household utensils such as bowls, spoons or plates were made of wood.
The development of wooden toys from the Erzgebirge
While the production of wooden toys initially took place on a family level, larger companies developed with increasing demand. The small family manufacturers now gave distribution and sales into the hands of dealers and so-called publishers.
They also quickly noticed that a division of labour in the production of the individual toy products is more effective. Some specialized in cars and other vehicles, others took care of the production of animals, people and other characters. The various wooden toys and wooden figures from the Erzgebirge were then delivered to the publishers, from whom the dealers put together the finished sales product.
new technologies in the 18th century
From 1800, tire turning or split ring turning increased the productivity, expressiveness and independence of toy production in the Erzgebirge. In this technique, outlines of figures (usually animals) are turned into damp spruce wood rings. Tire turning requires a high art of turning the rotating wooden tire in such a way that the outlines manifest themselves in this way, as intended. The tyre is then broken open. From this tire, 40 to 60 figures can then be cut off or split off. Even today, tire animals are still produced in Seiffen and the surrounding region, but only a few still master this technique.
Discover the traditionally made wooden toys from Ebert in our assortment, which make children's eyes shine.
rising timber prices & high export tariffs in the 19th century
At the end of the 19th century, the existence of wooden toy manufacturers was threatened by rising wood prices and difficult customs conditions. With the introduction of weight duties instead of ad valorem duties, the relatively heavy wooden toys became almost unsaleable.
wooden toys become socially acceptable again, with miniature models
The production of wooden toys experienced a new upswing in 1900 with the idea of producing miniature toys made of wood in accordance with the measure of Nürnberg at the time, in order to avoid the high export duties. The miniature toys fit into a matchbox, which could include various figures, animals, houses and entire cities, which were child-friendly and knowledge-imparting at the same time. Meanwhile, the miniature toys are only produced as a souvenir in the Erzgebirge.
center of wooden toys production in the heart of the Erzgebirge
Toy factories and turner workshops can now be found throughout the Erzgebirge. Seiffen has been one of the most famous places of toy production in the Erzgebirge from the very beginning. Early on, everyday objects and toys were made of wood in the small spa town of the Erzgebirge. These were sold in 1760 under the name "Seiffener Ware" on the trading centers Nürnberg and Leipzig throughout Europe and from 1784 worldwide. Partly because of the wide range of products, the wood products from Seiffen were able to assert themselves against other toy centers on the market. Today, the region is also known worldwide as the "Seiffener Spielzeugwinkel" (region of toy production)
Even today, the Saxon part of the mountain is characterized by toy production and handicrafts. The production of folk wood art is present throughout the village and gives it its unique atmosphere. In the small town of Seiffen, among other things, the technology of tire turning was developed. In the toy museum of the Erzgebirge in Seiffen, visitors will be treated to the toy tradition of the Erzgebirge presented on the basis of thousands of exhibits and explained by background information.
Where are original wooden toys made?
When talking about wooden toys, one involuntarily thinks of the Erzgebirge. What enjoyed great popularity at the time is still popular today. Nowadays, the production of wooden toys is mainly concentrated in the village of Seiffen and its surrounding area. The toys have a large variety of products, but are clearly associated with the Erzgebirge. Wooden toys from the Erzgebirge are as well as other typical wood products, such as incense smokers, candle archs and nutcrackers known under the term "Erzgebirgische Volkskunst".
What are the advantages of wooden toys for children?
Wooden toys offer clear advantages to conventional toys made of plastic: Wood is a natural raw material, because of that wooden toys are free of dangerous pollutants and are therefore ideal for babies and toddlers. In addition, wooden toys are particularly durable due to their durability and robustness.
Which wooden toys for children are there and are they recommended?
With us you get wooden toys for your children original from Seiffen and the toy region of the Erzgebirge. Our products are characterized by a loving color design in the usual precision of the Erzgebirge. You will find a large selection of different wooden toys, such as game dices, jumping jacks or table spinning tops. We recommend our wooden toys from the Erzgebirge, as they are educational and harmless to health.
How do wooden toys promote my child's development?
Of course, fun should come first. If your child is enthusiastic about wooden toys, they will play with them again and again. Wooden toys encourage children's creativity and imagination by constantly finding new play ideas. In addition, fine motor skills and concentration are trained. Some wooden toys explicitly promote the child's cognitive development.
