teatoasted

My travels will take me to Paris and Prague in Sept. and October. I collect handcrafted wood toys and kinetic art. These are more in the wind-up, balance or moving toys than the static/pretty dollhouse. They are sometimes called automata (mechanical sculpture).

I've picked up pieces in Germany and the U.K. but was always pointed to Eastern Europe as the place to get good stuff. I've also heard of collections of Automata (moving mechanical figures) in Paris.

If anyone has seen or can point to resources for both, I'd be very obliged.

For an example for some of this stuff in paper form see:

http://www.flying-pig.co.uk (paper automata)

jody

In Paris, you might try Tumbleweed, at 19 rue du Turenne, Metro St PAul for hadcrafted toys.

BTilke

Do you want new or antiques? You can find antique automata (automates) in Paris at Automates & Poupees, 97 Ave. Daumesnil (12th arrond).
http://www.automatesetpoupees.com/

If you want new, contact the store anyway, they can probably point you in the right direction.

Happy hunting!

elaine

In Prague you will see wooden marionette puppets in many shop windows, it's a local industry it seems.

missypie

I don't think you'll have to look far in Prague. We were there when our kids (staying at home with Grandma) were 4 and 2. We brought home terrific wooden toys from the local shops....two ramps with a pig and a hedgehog that race each other down.

I don't remember seeing wooden toys in Paris.

Gretchen

On Ile de St. Louis there is a nice toy shop about half way down the center street on the left side. And a bit further down on the right is the most magnificent marionette store I have ever been lucky enough to see. Lots of nice wood toys in various toy stores in Paris.

Christina

I have never heard Paris was known fot that kind of thing, but it's not my interest, so I just probably missed it.

In Prague, there is a Czech store that sells folkart and local crafts called Ceska Lidova Remesla, and I think they have some wooden toys in there. It's a good store, I always buy something. They have a couple around Prague (the artists are real, it's not mass-produced, some Czech cooperative perhaps). Here are some central addresses for that store:

Nerudova 23 and 31 (in Mala Strana, just over the bridge)
Mostecka 17 (also in Mala Strana)

Karlova 2 and Melantrichova 17 (in Old Town)

amyb

I found an open air market when walking from Old Town Square to Wenceslas Square. It's on a small side street on the right just before you get to the base of Wenceslas Square (the side street is nestled amongst many jewelry shops). There was an older gentleman there that had tables of hand carved toys, including trucks, one of which I bought. Very reasonably priced (cheap!) and authentic.

AnthonyGA

Au Nain Bleu (408 rue Saint-Honoré, 8e) sells hand-made wooden toys of various kinds (dollhouses, etc.), although they are not cheap.

There's a store in the boulevard Beaumarchais that specializes in all sorts of toy robots, of all sizes and prices.

teatoasted

Thank you all for the tips. I'll post back after my travels are complete. Check this link for the best collection of contemporary automata around. I have purchased a couple of the smaller pieces.

http://www.cabaret.co.uk

If you ever have a chance to see one of their exhibits, don't miss it.

GSteed

Check labels for country of origin. Central Europe is awash with goods such as you describe made in China.

Byrd

Marking for future reference