• Collections and Documentation
  • 20th/21st-Century Collection
  • Archaeological Collection
  • Arms and Militaria Collection
  • Banner and Flag Collection
  • Carriage, Wagon, Sled Collection
  • Ceramics Collection
  • Coin and Medal Collection
  • Ethnographic Collection
  • Furnishings Collection
  • Glass Collection
  • Graphic Collection
  • Historic Photography Collection
  • Jewellery Collection
  • Painting Collection
  • Precious Metals Collections
  • Sculpture Collection
  • Seal Collection
  • Stained Glass Collection
  • Textiles and Costume Collection
  • Timepiece and Scientific Instrument Collection
  • Toy Collection
  • Uniform Collection
• Documentation Centre
• Sammlungszentrum
• Lending and Registration
• Scientific Publications
• Online Collections

The Toy Collection

The museum’s collection of toys comprises objects from the 18th to the 21st century, either produced or used in Switzerland. Intended both for didactic purposes and to amuse, toys often reflect the adult world in miniature, as is the case for instance with our collection’s two extraordinary doll kitchens. A key characteristic of the development of the toy has been the almost complete move from individual manufacturing to mass production. More …