Petit Monde Sauvage

Grasshopper pull toy, painted wood, France, 1930s 

I love the website of the French cultural institution Les Arts Decoratifs! 

Besides organizing beautiful and unusual exhibitions (remember Les Lalanne?), 

its online documentation is generous in quantity and high in quality.

These photos showcase some of the toys featured in the 2010 exhibition

Petites et Grosses Bêtes, dedicated to animal representations in the world of toys.

Pig, France, late 19th century 

Bulldog, Paris, 1912

Celluloid frog, Petitcollin toy company, France, 1920–30

Elephant, France, 1930–40  

Ladybug (I had this one as a child) and snail tin friction toys, 

Ernst Paul Lehmann toy company, Germany, 1950–60s

Cat with ball pull toy, France, around 1950

White mouse mechanical toy, Köhler, Germany, around 1955 

Bunny by Helen Diemer, Switzerland, 1959 

Owl, CEJI-Lang toy company, France, 1976 

Squirrels, Starlux toy company, France, 1985

Yorkshire, Aux Nations toy company, France, 1983

Bear by Susan Tantlinger, France, 1988