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The Toy Museum of Catalonia

Figueres

Terradas House, built in 1767, has housed the Toy Museum of Catalonia since 1982. Photo by MJC.

Terradas House, built in 1767, has housed the Toy Museum of Catalonia since 1982. Photo by MJC.

The Toy Museum of Catalonia takes visitors on a journey through the history of the toy industry in Catalonia. Toys from your childhood and from generations ago: puppet theatres, cardboard horses, toy kitchens, balls, dolls, spinning tops, tin toys with rope, planes, cars, trains, tricycles, building sets, teddy bears, the game of the goose, circuses, puppets, robots, and many other much loved companions from the exciting and imaginative moments of childhood play.

The Museum was opened in 1982, and from a collection of more than 15,000 toys and games we find some 4000 exhibits on display, some of which belonged to people like Joan Brossa, Quim Monzó, Ernest Lluch, Salvador Puig Antich, Terenci Moix, and more. You can also visit an exhibition dedicated to the first twenty years of Salvador Dalí's life, featuring his toys, postcards, and photographs from his family album. The exhibition is accompanied by music by Pascal Comelade and Erik Satie.

The Toy Museum of Catalonia has received much acclaim, including the National Popular Culture Award in 1999 and the Creu de Sant Jordi award in 2007.

SPACES

<p>Games and toys from the Greek and Roman times in Catalonia, many of which have lasted until today. Photo by MJC.</p>

Chapters «Games in antiquity» and «The rise of children’s games»

Chapters «Games in antiquity» and «The rise of children’s games»

<p>Toys of different sizes and shapes, and made of different materials, with the movement of the wheel in common. Photo by MJC.</p>

Chapters «Playing outdoors», «Travelling» and «Animals»

Chapters «Playing outdoors», «Travelling» and «Animals»

<p>Often children learn more about the adult world through toys, such as those found in the museum. Photo by MJC.</p>

Chapters «Dominus Vobiscum» and «Family life»

Chapters «Dominus Vobiscum» and «Family life»

<p>Exhibition area on tricks that deceive the eyes and stimulate the brain. Photo by MJC.</p>

Chapters «Entertainment», «Optical illusions» and «Magic and illusions»

Chapters «Entertainment», «Optical illusions» and «Magic and illusions»

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<p>Meccano’s international success gave rise to the creation of other building games such as Metaling and Trix. Photo by MJC.</p>

Chapter « Meccano»

Chapter « Meccano»

<p>Many games, especially society games, have an educational and even moralising component. Photo by MJC.</p>

Chapters «Board Games», «Society Games», «Game of the Goose»and «Jigsaw Puzzle»

Chapters «Board Games», «Society Games», «Game of the Goose»and «Jigsaw Puzzle»

<p>The painter Salvador Dalí was also a young child once. Here you can see an exhibition on his childhood. Photo by MJC.</p>

Chapter «The first 20 years in the life of Salvador Dalí»

Chapter «The first 20 years in the life of Salvador Dalí»

<p>The evolution of the toy is closely linked to the raw materials used to make them. Photo by MJC.</p>

Chapters «Magical movement»and «Intergalactic»

Chapters «Magical movement»and «Intergalactic»

<p>Railway models are a hobby that attracts many adults, like Andreu Costa Pedro. Photo by MJC.</p>

Chapter «Model railway from Andreu Costa Pedro»

Chapter «Model railway from Andreu Costa Pedro»

<p>Guy Selz: “Accumulation, this gathering of elements that sometimes seem disconnected, takes full value when these elements are brouht together”. Photo by MJC.</p>

Chapter «The collection of Guy Selz collections»

Chapter «The collection of Guy Selz collections»

OBJECTS

<p>Reproduction of a terracotta figurine representing the baker’s trade. The original is at the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia - Empúries. Photo by MJC. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Baker

Baker

<p>Reproduction of a rattle from the Roman period (2nd century – first half of the 3rd century AD) made of bronze and found in Tarragona. Photo by MJC. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Rattle

Rattle

<p>Popular games of the 19th century. According to folklorist Joan Amades, the source of this storyboard may be a foreign <em>aleluya </em>(hymn of praise). Photo by MJC. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Storyboard of childrens’ games

Storyboard of childrens’ games

<p>Payá, from Alicante, marketed the Bugat I-970 from 1930 until the early 1950s. Photo by MJC. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Bugat I-970

Bugat I-970

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<p>Skates with extensible bases that used to belong to the writer Quim Monzó. Photo by Jordi Puig. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Skates that belonged to Quim M

Skates that belonged to Quim Monzó

<p>Animals made of cardboard were a very popular toy in the early 20th century. Photo by Jordi Puig. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Cardboard cat with wheels

Cardboard cat with wheels

<p>The Catalan "Pepa" was very popular because many families could afford it. Photo by MJC. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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The Catalan "Pepa" doll

The Catalan "Pepa" doll

<p>Tin procession made by Heinrichsen in 1880. The small size of the figures stands out. Photo by MJC. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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The tin procession

The tin procession

<p>Puppet theatres, as well as entertaining, were also a valuable, educational toy. Photo by MJC. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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“The Children's Theatre” made

“The Children's Theatre” made by Seix i Barral

<p>The zoetrope was the forerunner to the cinema. This one was made by Borràs in 1910. Photo by MJC. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Zoetrope

Zoetrope

<p><em>The little conjurer,</em> magic box made in Germany in 1930. It had belonged to Brossa when he was a little boy. Photo by MJC. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Joan Brossa's The little conju

Joan Brossa's The little conjurer

<p>The Meccano Eiffel Tower, built by Palouzíe and Poch, a good sales strategy for the product. Photo by Jordi Puig. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Meccano Eiffel Tower

Meccano Eiffel Tower

<p>The Meccano parts were nickel-coloured. In 1926, green and red were added and, in 1934, blue, yellow and gold. Photo by MJC. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Meccano pieces display cabinet

Meccano pieces display cabinet

<p>This board was produced in 1890 in France, the country where the Grand Jeu de l'Oie is still very popular. Photo by MJC. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Grand Jeu de l'Oie (Great game

Grand Jeu de l'Oie (Great game of the goose)

<p>Jigsaw puzzle that conceals a mathematical riddle: the perfect squaring of the square. Photo by MJC. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Jigsaw puzzle. The perfect squ

Jigsaw puzzle. The perfect squaring of the square

<p>The teddy bear "Don Osito Marquina" belonged to the Dali children. Photo by Jordi Puig. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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The teddy bear belonging to th

The teddy bear belonging to the Dalí brothers

<p>Salvador Dalí in a family photo dressed up as a rich Catalan farm girl. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Salvador Dalí dresses up

Salvador Dalí dresses up

<p>Wind-up toy by Schuco of a character played by Charlie Chaplin, with a cord mechanism. Photo by Jordi Puig. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Schuco wind-up toy

Schuco wind-up toy

<p>Robots arrived in children's homes in 1950. Photo by Jordi Puig. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Science fiction and toys

Science fiction and toys

<p>HAG locomotive ref. no. 181, a reproduction of the Swiss BLS Re 4/4. Photo by MJC. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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HAG electric locomotive, ref.

HAG electric locomotive, ref. no. 181

<p>Diesel locomotive made in 1965 by the German model train company Märklin. Photo by MJC. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Märklin Electric Diesel Locomo

Märklin Electric Diesel Locomotive, ref.no. 3066

<p>Miniature steam locomotive made in 1972 by the reputed Märklin company. Photo by MJC. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Märklin steam locomotive, ref.

Märklin steam locomotive, ref. no. 3093

<p>The toys, a rich part of Mexican folk art, have both common and ceremonial uses. Photo by Jordi Puig. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Pair of Mexican skeletons for

Pair of Mexican skeletons for All Saints' Day

<p>Several rag dolls sewn by Madame Zka in 1954 in France. Photo by Jordi Puig. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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The erotic dolls of Madame Zka

The erotic dolls of Madame Zka

<p>Fish-shaped painted wooden toy with wheels. Made in Japan circa 1970. Photo by Jordi Puig. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Japanese wooden fish

Japanese wooden fish

<p>Bull made of painted papier mâché on wire in Oaxaca (Mexico) around 1960. Photo by Jordi Puig. The Toy Museum of Catalonia. Figueres.</p>

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Yellow and blue bull

Yellow and blue bull

INFORMATION

ADDRESS

Carrer de Sant Pere, 1
17600 Figueres (Alt Empordà)

FEES

General admission: €8

Concession: €6,50

Reduced price for groups: €6

Temporary exhibitions: free unless otherwise indicated

Special admission price for school groups

Audio guide (available in Spanish, Catalan, English and French): €1

TELEPHONE

+34 972 504 585

WEBSITE

http://www.mjc.cat

OPENING TIMES

Tuesday to Friday: 10:30 - 18:00
Saturday: 10:30 - 19:00
Sunday and Monday: closed

EMAIL

info@mjc.cat

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