History of Toys: From Ancient Figurines to Geek Collectibles.

From Prehistoric Clay Figures to Geeky Collectibles

A journey through time: how toys evolved from ancient playthings to modern fandom icons.

Prehistory & Antiquity

• Children played with clay, wooden, or bone figurines (source: Wikipedia).
• Ancient civilizations had board games and animal-shaped toys.
• Romans and Greeks used dolls, rattles, and early dice.

Middle Ages & Renaissance

• Handcrafted toys: wooden knights, musical instruments, dolls.
• Toys reflected social status—nobility had more luxurious versions.
• Mechanical playthings emerged thanks to inventors like Leonardo da Vinci.

19th Century & Industrial Revolution

• Mass production made toys more affordable for the middle class.
• Tin soldiers, dollhouses, and miniature trains became popular.
• Steiff introduced the iconic teddy bear around 1880.

20th Century: The Golden Age of Toys

• Plastic revolution: LEGO, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Playmobil.
• Fantasy & sci-fi franchises introduced iconic action figures like Star Wars.
• Monopoly, Game Boy, Rubik's Cube, and D&D reshaped toy history.

• Since the 1990s, geek culture has expanded rapidly.
• Fandom is now physical: Funko POP!, anime statues, replicas, and more.

FANS Geek Store: From Toys to Passion

Founded in 1985 in Antwerp, Belgium FANS has grown into the ultimate geek destination. Whether you’re into retro games, Marvel merch, or manga—we bring fandom to life in-store and online.