It was during the 19th century that balance toys became popular. Both children and adults alike enjoyed playing with the fun and uniquely designed toy.
Balance toys can be traced back to India and China. There, they were usually found carved from some type of soft wood. However, balance toys produced in the west were most often crafted from metal or tin.
The toys delighted almost everyone because of the interesting way in which they moved. It looked almost improbable that the figure on the toy would not fall over, but would amaze by remaining steady at the top even when in motion.
To work, a balance toy was equipped with a swinging weight that was found either below or above the toy. For those made of materials different than the norm, such as the paper-mache varieties popularized in 1900, buckshot or pebbles were used as counterweights.
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Most balance toys can be found with a nautical theme, although others, such as whales, horses, clowns, etc., are also inexistence.
Balance toys are still popular today. So much so, in fact, that many companies have begun to reproduce the toys that were once so popular. The nautical theme is still prevalent among today’s reproductions.
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