The Romagnoli Toys collection
The “Romagnoli Toys” collection is a reflection of the natural history of Romagna region (Italy) a particularly unique area of Villanova delle Capanne (the original name of the contemporary village of Villanova di Bagnacavallo – Ravenna).
The other part of this collection belongs to the general tradition of Italian and European handmade toys.
Some of them are deeply rooted in the past finding their origin in the Middle Ages and earlier, belonging in some aspects to the pre-historical time.
Only recently and thank to the efforts of Mariarosa Bagnari (Director of the Eco-museo of Villanova) and with the help a few other people, the lost original culture has begun to be recognised, restored to life, and to be displayed at the museum and during local festivals, around Italy as well as in Europe.
Mariarosa’s research has introduced old toys and games with their related folklore from the heart of the local native culture into the lives of today’s children, finding in them some enlightenments for the future.
It is surprising to see the abundance of toys and games that she found through collecting memories from the local elders. They helped to recreate the traditional handmade toys of the past, mainly built out of natural materials.
For future generations, her efforts, together with the team, will enable the memories of the past to come to life.
These few notes anticipate a book, in the hope that a compilation of data and related pictures of traditional toys, games and the culture of past childhood, will be helpful for others who want to draw on a sustainable and simpler way of life.
However the ultimate purpose of this project will be to promote fun and genuine play.
In an effort to define the meaning, Traditional and Folk toys are those made with natural or available materials. They are built by amateurs in the tradition of the area’s culture and ancestors, all of them mainly made for personal rather that commercial reasons.
These toy-makers still build for the love of the creation and the craft, or for the love of their children; other times to keep alive a tradition or to teach others this practice.
But in other circumstances, it is the necessity to have a toy that persuades and stimulates a child to make his or her own toy. Essentially, these traditional toy-makers don’t build toys to sell. The main motive is related to passing on ideas and skills, where the younger is watching and copying the older.
In this way, the traditional and folk toys were, and still are, made by a pattern handed down from generation to generation in a fairly fixed form.
But for most, it is the challenge and joy of making that motivates them. This can lead to a real sense of satisfaction. This is what distinguishes it from the global market of mass toy-products.
This is the Italian relevant website to find The Eco-Museum of Villanova di Bagnacavallo, with the Romagnoli toy collection.