North German Toy Museum
Encyclopedia
The Soltau Toy Museum formerly the North German Toy Museum in Soltau
originated from a private collection. It was founded in 1984 by Hannelore Ernst.
The museum is located in a listed building which consists of a shop and house in the centre of Soltau.
Exhibits from four centuries recall something of the history of toys and culture. In addition to doll
s made of the widest variety of materials there are doll's houses, rooms, kitchens and shops as well as model railways, and lead and wooden toys, Laterna Magica devices and a host of teddy bear
s and stuffed toys. There are also opportunities to play with some of the toys.
The museum has a total area of 600 square metres and receives 40,000 visitors a year.
The pièce de resistance of the exhibition is Dingley Hall, a three metre wide and 2 metre high doll's house that was bought in 2003 for €190,000 at Christie’s in London
. This exhibit
is however only part of a valuable collection that represents decades of work.
In order to ensure the continued existence of this important collection, a charitable foundation, the "Stiftung Spiel: Historisches Spielzeug - innovative Spielräume" was formed and has run the museum since 1 August 2005. The Ernst family has transferred its toy collection to the foundation.
Soltau
- Middle Ages :The region of the Lüneburg Heath had already been settled by the start of the New Stone Age about 4,000 years ago. The Soltau area was initially occupied by a few individual farms. The parish of Soltau was probably founded around 830 and the first wooden church Sante Johannis...
originated from a private collection. It was founded in 1984 by Hannelore Ernst.
Exhibits from four centuries recall something of the history of toys and culture. In addition to doll
Doll
A doll is a model of a human being, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have traditionally been used in magic and religious rituals throughout the world, and traditional dolls made of materials like clay and wood are found in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. The earliest documented dolls...
s made of the widest variety of materials there are doll's houses, rooms, kitchens and shops as well as model railways, and lead and wooden toys, Laterna Magica devices and a host of teddy bear
Teddy bear
The teddy bear is a stuffed toy bear. They are usually stuffed with soft, white cotton and have smooth and soft fur. It is an enduring form of a stuffed animal in many countries, often serving the purpose of entertaining children. In recent times, some teddy bears have become collector's items...
s and stuffed toys. There are also opportunities to play with some of the toys.
The museum has a total area of 600 square metres and receives 40,000 visitors a year.
The pièce de resistance of the exhibition is Dingley Hall, a three metre wide and 2 metre high doll's house that was bought in 2003 for €190,000 at Christie’s in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. This exhibit
Exhibit
Exhibit may refer to:*Exhibit , evidence in physical form brought before the court.*Demonstrative evidence is a term used to describe exhibits and other physical forms of evidence used in court to demonstrate, show, depict, inform or teach relevant information to the viewer.*Exhibit , a lightweight...
is however only part of a valuable collection that represents decades of work.
In order to ensure the continued existence of this important collection, a charitable foundation, the "Stiftung Spiel: Historisches Spielzeug - innovative Spielräume" was formed and has run the museum since 1 August 2005. The Ernst family has transferred its toy collection to the foundation.