Lleida Toy Exhibition Features Vintage Playthings

The exhibition showcases a wide range of historical artifacts that trace the history of play. The oldest item in the collection is a wooden motorcycle featuring metal applications, dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. This piece predates the widespread availability of television and represents the craftsmanship of early 20th-century toy production.

Other notable items include a box of Juegos Reunidos Geyper and an original puppet theater created by Hertha Franke. The display also features organolas, antique dolls, and a Payá train. These items illustrate the diversity of entertainment options available to children before the digital age.

In addition to these mechanical and traditional toys, the exhibition includes pop culture memorabilia. A figure of a Rey Mago (Three Kings) equipped with a mailbox for collecting letters is on view, alongside characters from the Familia Telerín. The Familia Telerín were popular television characters in Spain during the 1960s and 1970s who encouraged children to go to sleep.

The items on display were curated from a much larger private collection belonging to Manuel Gigó. Out of his total collection of 3,000 pieces, roughly 30 were chosen for this specific exhibition at the Casino Principal. This selection process highlights the specific focus on the 1920s through the 1970s era.

The exhibition provides context regarding the lifecycle of toys during this period. Before the rapid turnover associated with modern consumer electronics, toys often remained in catalogs for extended periods. The source material notes that toys were featured in catalogs for approximately fifteen years, suggesting a slower pace of change in the toy industry during the mid-20th century.

The exhibition is situated at the Casino Principal in Lleida. It is a public initiative by the Lleida City Council designed to bring cultural heritage to the local community. The venue provides a fitting backdrop for historical items, allowing visitors to engage with the past in a dedicated cultural space.

The display is accessible to the public until February 1. It serves as a temporary archive of memory, preserving the tangible history of childhood and play in the region. The inclusion of specific local and cultural references, such as the Familia Telerín, connects the toys to the broader cultural history of Spain.