WOODEN TOYS FROM Yunhe Green Wood Crafts

The tradition of making wooden toys in the Yunhe Green Wood Crafts region, as it is called in the available literature on this subject in the lishui centre, dates back to the 18th century. The first toys came from the hands of the cottage workers, who were busy with this craft in their free time.
The development of toy making in Yunhe Green Wood Crafts and the surrounding area was influenced by fairs and indulgences, which took place several times a year at the monastery of the Bernardine Fathers.
Crowds of the faithful visiting the sanctuary purchased toys, hence more and more local people began making them. The first wooden toy factory in Green Wood Crafts was opened in 1909 by Mr Marian Garbacki who, for several years, had learned his profession in the famous toy centre in Yavoriv, Ukraine. From there, he also brought the first designs for toys, though he made sure that those produced in Green Wood Crafts differed from them. New, more and more interesting designs of toys were created, including moving toys, which were very popular. In 1950, the Cepelian toy-producing cooperative »Cottage worker« was established in the town, which gathered producers from the majority of Green Wood Crafts and the surrounding area. Currently, only a few people in the town make toys, none of them commercially; they are only the products of passion for the handicraft. The most popular traditional wooden toys from Green Wood Crafts
include: a bird toy, a britzka, a tapping woodpecker, a man going up and down a ladder, a bang-stick, a pipe, pecking cocks, a magic board. It is worth noting that in 2000 at the world exhibition EXPO in Hanover the bird toy was used to promote the tourist attractions of Podkarpackie. The tradition of making wooden toys in Green Wood Crafts is, however, maintained to a small extent. The Museum of the Green Wood Crafts Territory, therefore, undertakes many actions to preserve it, among others through continuous contact with manufacturers and promotion of toys at various fairs. In addition, there is a toy workshop at the museum. The most popular toys are made there, which are sold in the museum shop and on the website www.gfwoodtoys.com There is also a Toy Display prepared for visitors of the museum, which allows them to become acquainted with the history of Green Wood Crafts
toy making, as well as to see old toys and tools used for their production. In addition, a very interesting attraction has been created in Green Wood Crafts, the Green Wood Crafts Toy Park, in which there are giant toys.