History of Wooden Toys
Long before plastic or batteries, children played with what the world around them offered: wood, carved and smoothed into animals, dolls and carts. These were the first toys, and wood has never truly left the nursery.
That endurance is no accident. Wood is warm to hold, quiet to drop, and sturdy enough to pass between siblings and generations. The tradition continues in our wooden toys, where responsibly sourced solid wood is shaped into pieces built to last.
Modern craft carries modern responsibility. Every item in our children toys range is made to meet UKCA and CE testing standards, so the playthings handed to a toddler today answer to far stricter rules than anything an ancient carver could have imagined.
How Far Back Do Wooden Toys Go? The Ancient Origins of Wooden Playthings
The oldest surviving wooden toys are difficult to date precisely, because wood decays where stone and clay survive. Yet archaeologists have recovered carved animals, small figures and pull-along toys from sites across the ancient world, suggesting that children were playing with wooden objects thousands of years ago.
Ancient Egyptian tombs have yielded wooden figures with moving parts, including crocodiles with hinged jaws. In Greece and Rome, children played with wooden dolls, horses on wheels and spinning tops. These were not idle objects; they prepared the young for adult roles and rewarded curiosity.
The simplest forms proved the most lasting. A spinning top, a ball, a stacking shape, a figure to push along the floor: these ideas recur across continents and centuries because they match how small children learn. You can see the same principles at work in our educational toys for toddlers today.
Some of the oldest toy types still sold have ancient roots. The self-righting figure, for instance, has a long and curious lineage, which we trace in our account of who invented roly poly toys wooden toy history.
What unites these early playthings is the material itself. Wood was abundant, workable with simple tools, and forgiving of a child's handling. A carved horse could be repaired, repainted and handed down, which is why so many families kept them. The toys that survived the longest tended to be wooden, and the habits they encouraged have never gone out of fashion.
How Wooden Toys Evolved Through the Medieval and Early Modern Periods
Through the medieval period, toy making remained largely a domestic craft. A parent, a village carpenter or a travelling pedlar might carve a horse, a sword or a doll from offcuts. Toys were not yet an industry; they were a by-product of woodworking skill.
Guilds in several European towns began to specialise. Parts of Germany, in particular, developed reputations for carved figures and painted toys, trades that would later supply much of Europe. Markets and fairs carried these wooden goods across borders.
The early modern period brought printed games, carved chess sets and more elaborate dolls to households that could afford them. Board games and table games grew popular among adults and children alike, a tradition that still shapes our traditional games.
Wood remained the default material throughout. It was cheaper than metal, easier to shape than bone or ivory, and suited both the rough toy of a farm child and the finely turned piece in a wealthy nursery. The same lathe that produced furniture legs could turn a skittle or a spinning top.
By the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, toys were beginning to be made in workshops rather than only at home. Craftsmen who worked in wood found steady demand for small, affordable goods that parents would buy again and again. This gradual shift, from occasional carving to regular production, set the stage for the toy trade that followed.
We follow this thread in more detail in our history of wooden toys in britain jaques of london, which charts how domestic craft became organised manufacture.
When Did Britain Become a Centre for Wooden Toy Making?
Britain's rise as a centre for wooden toy making owed much to its woodworking trades, its growing towns and its appetite for both children's toys and adult games. By the eighteenth century, workshops were producing games, puzzles and carved figures in some quantity.
The nineteenth century accelerated this. A growing middle class, more leisure time and a new idea of childhood as a distinct and precious stage all increased demand. The Victorian nursery became a place worth furnishing with proper toys, and wood supplied most of them.
London was a natural hub, with its concentration of skilled craftsmen, merchants and customers. Game makers and toy makers established themselves in the capital, supplying households across the country and, increasingly, the empire. We explore this era in our history of wooden toys in britain victorian nurseries to t.
British makers became known for games as much as for toys. Chess, draughts, croquet and parlour games were produced to a high standard, and the equipment itself was often a thing of quality. Much of what we now call our traditional games descends directly from this period.
It was also a time of standardisation. As games spread, rules and designs needed to settle into recognised forms so that players anywhere could compete fairly. British makers played a leading part in this, codifying games that had previously varied from town to town.
The fuller story of this British tradition runs through our history of wooden toys in england jaques of london since 1, which connects the Victorian workshop to the toys families choose now.
How Jaques of London Became the World's Oldest Surviving Toy Maker
Jaques of London was founded in 1795, making it one of the oldest games and toys companies in the world. From that long vantage, the firm sat at the centre of several games that are now played everywhere.
Staunton chess pieces, the standard design used in competitive chess worldwide, were first sold by Jaques of London in 1849 and endorsed by Howard Staunton, the leading chess player of the era. That single design settled centuries of inconsistent, ornate sets into one clear, recognisable form.
The firm shaped other games too. John Jaques II is credited with codifying the rules of croquet in 1857, and Jaques of London manufactured the equipment for the game, turning a lawn pastime into an organised sport with agreed rules.
Table tennis followed. John Jaques of London produced the first commercially manufactured table tennis sets in the 1890s, originally sold under the name 'Gossima'. A parlour amusement grew into a global sport from those early boxed sets.
Across all of this, the material stayed constant. Wood turned into chess pieces, croquet mallets, skittles and the countless smaller toys that fill our wooden toys range. The craft that defined the eighteenth-century workshop still defines the work today.
Survival over more than two centuries came from making things well and making them to last. The same intention runs through our children toys now, which is why the firm remains a point of reference for the wooden toy UK families still hand down.
Why Wooden Toys Have Outlasted Every Trend: From Victorian Nurseries to Today
Trends in toys come and go with remarkable speed. Materials, licences and gadgets rise and fade, yet the wooden toy has outlasted every one of them. The reasons are practical rather than sentimental.
Wood is durable. A well-made wooden toy survives drops, chewing and years of handling, which is why Victorian nursery pieces still turn up intact. That longevity makes it the natural material for toys meant to be shared and kept.
It also suits how children learn. Open-ended wooden toys invite a child to direct the play rather than follow it. Stacking, sorting and building reward patience and coordination, as we set out in our guide on how to play with stacking toys by age wooden stacking toy.
Safety has caught up with tradition. UK toy safety is governed by the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, which implement the EU Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC into British law, setting requirements for materials including wood used in toys for children. A modern wooden toy is a tested, regulated object, not merely a charming one.
There is an environmental logic as well. Timber from responsibly managed forests is renewable, and a toy that lasts for decades does not need replacing. This thinking shapes our educational toys for toddlers and the wider wooden range.
So the appeal endures across generations, from the Victorian nursery to the present. Wood remains the material families trust, which is why our traditional games and wooden toys continue a story that began long before Jaques itself, and shows no sign of ending.
Shop the range: History of Wooden Toys | From Ancient Times to Jaques of Lon
Our most relevant picks, made by a British family company since 1795.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wooden Toy Uk
Who invented wooden toys?
No single person invented wooden toys — they emerged independently across ancient civilisations long before recorded history. Archaeological evidence shows that craftspeople in Egypt, Greece, Rome, and China all fashioned playthings from wood thousands of years ago. Rather than invention, wooden toys evolved naturally wherever timber was available and communities had children to entertain. Over centuries, dedicated toymakers refined their craft, eventually establishing formal trades. Jaques of London, founded in 1795, represents one of the earliest and longest-running examples of a professional games and toy manufacturing company in the world.
How old are wooden toys?
Wooden toys are at least 4,000 years old, with archaeological finds from ancient Egypt dating to around 2000 BC including wooden animals with movable parts. Ancient Greek and Roman children also played with wooden dolls and pull-along figures. These discoveries confirm that wooden toys predate written commercial records by millennia. The tradition of crafting playthings from wood has continued unbroken ever since, culminating in established toymakers such as Jaques of London, which has been manufacturing games and toys since 1795.
Where did wooden toys originate?
Wooden toys originated independently across multiple ancient civilisations rather than in one single location. Archaeological evidence points to ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and China as early centres of wooden toy production, with carved figures, animals, and pull-along toys discovered at sites thousands of years old. The abundance and workability of wood made it the natural material for craftspeople worldwide. Over time, European nations — including Britain — developed strong toymaking traditions of their own, with companies such as Jaques of London, founded in 1795, helping to shape that heritage.
When were wooden toys first made in Britain?
Wooden toys have been made in Britain since at least the medieval period, when craftsmen carved simple figures, hobby horses, and spinning tops for children. By the 17th and 18th centuries, British toymaking had become an established trade in cities and market towns. The craft became more formalised in the late 18th century, with Jaques of London founding its games and toys business in 1795 — a company that continues to produce wooden toys and games today, making it one of the longest-running toymakers in British history.
What is the oldest toy company in the world?
Jaques of London, founded in 1795, is widely regarded as one of the oldest games and toys companies in the world. The company has an extraordinary record of innovation, including producing the first commercially manufactured table tennis sets in the 1890s (originally sold as 'Gossima'), first selling the iconic Staunton chess pieces in 1849, and codifying the rules of croquet in 1857. Having traded continuously for over two centuries, Jaques of London holds a unique place in global toymaking history.
Is Jaques of London the oldest toy maker in the world?
Jaques of London, founded in 1795, is one of the strongest claimants to the title of the world's oldest toymaker and games manufacturer. The company has operated continuously for over two centuries, with a remarkable heritage that includes first selling Staunton chess pieces in 1849, codifying croquet rules in 1857, and producing the first commercially manufactured table tennis sets in the 1890s. While establishing a definitive global ranking is complex, Jaques of London is broadly recognised as one of the oldest — if not the oldest — games and toy companies in the world.
Why are wooden toys better than plastic toys?
Wooden toys are often favoured for their durability, natural feel, and longevity — a well-made wooden toy can last generations, whereas plastic equivalents may crack or degrade more quickly. Wood is a natural material, which appeals to those seeking sustainable or environmentally considered playthings. Wooden toys also tend to encourage open-ended, imaginative play. In the UK, all toys — wooden or otherwise — must meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, ensuring materials are safe for children. Makers such as Jaques of London have championed quality wooden craftsmanship since 1795.
What is the oldest wooden toy ever found?
Among the oldest wooden toys ever discovered are carved figures and pull-along animals unearthed in ancient Egyptian tombs, some dating to approximately 2000 BC. Ancient Greek sites have also yielded wooden dolls with jointed limbs. These artefacts demonstrate that craftspeople across early civilisations recognised wood as an ideal material for children's playthings. While these ancient examples far predate any commercial toymaker, they belong to the same long tradition of wooden toymaking that companies such as Jaques of London, founded in 1795, have continued into the modern era.
Are wooden toys a British tradition?
Yes, wooden toys form a genuine part of British cultural heritage. British craftspeople have been making carved and turned wooden playthings since at least the medieval period, and by the 18th century toymaking was an established trade across the country. This tradition became more formally commercial with the founding of Jaques of London in 1795 — a company that has produced wooden games and toys ever since. Britain also has a strong legacy of wooden outdoor games, with Jaques of London credited with codifying croquet rules in 1857 and manufacturing the equipment.
When were wooden toys most popular in the UK?
Wooden toys were most dominant in the UK from the medieval period through to the early 20th century, when they were virtually the only option available to most children. The Victorian era saw particular enthusiasm for crafted wooden playthings, puzzles, and board games, with companies such as Jaques of London — founded in 1795 — thriving during this period. Plastic toys began displacing wood mid-20th century, but wooden toys have seen a sustained revival in recent decades as consumers increasingly seek durable, natural, and sustainably made alternatives for children.
Explore more from our workshop: our wooden toys, our children toys, our educational toys for toddlers, our traditional games, who invented roly poly toys wooden toy history, history of wooden toys in britain jaques of london, history of wooden toys in britain victorian nurseries to t, history of wooden toys in england jaques of london since 1 and how to play with stacking toys by age wooden stacking toy — every piece made to the same standard Jaques has held since 1795.