• Press Room
  • Donate Today
  • Become a Member

Lyman Allyn Art Museum

  • Visit
    • Hours & Admission
    • Getting Here
    • Group Visits
    • Family Visits
    • Explore the Grounds
    • Facility Rental
    • Calendar of Events
  • Exhibitions & Collections
    • About the Collection
    • Permanent Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Upcoming Exhibitions
    • Digital Exhibitions
      • Mobile Tours
    • Past Exhibitions
    • Sculpture Trail
  • Education
    • Spring Break Workshops
    • Summer Art Immersion
    • Small Group Workshops
    • Drop-in Art Making
    • Learning Resources
    • Outreach Programs
    • Homeschool Programs
    • Onsite Group Visits
    • Children’s Birthday Parties
  • Events & Programs
    • Night at the Art Museum
    • Lectures and Presentations
    • Saturdays at the Lyman Allyn
    • Calendar of Events
  • Support
    • Membership
      • Reciprocal Partners
    • Giving
      • Lyman Allyn Fund
      • Planned Giving
      • Yellow Bus Fund
    • Get Involved
      • Docent Program
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Internship Opportunities
  • About Us
    • Your Museum
    • 90th Anniversary
    • Staff
    • Board of Trustees
    • Employment
    • Partners and Sponsors
    • Press Room

Play/Things: Toys and the Invention of Modern Childhood

March 27 – September 12, 2010
Play/Things: Toys and the Invention of Modern Childhood will highlight toys, dolls and dollhouses from the museum’s permanent collection as well as important objects on loan from collectors. While the objects themselves will appeal to visitors of all ages, the interpretation will encourage adult viewers to reflect on the larger cultural role toys have played in perpetuating modern notions of a good and happy childhood that emerged in the late 19th century.

By pairing toys with book illustrations, advertisements, period photographs and other images of children at play, the exhibition will present toys as the props used by youngsters in performances of childhood as stage-managed by adults. It is the adults, however, whose concerns ultimately informed the design, manufacture, marketing, distribution and purchase of toys.

Play/Things: Toys and the Invention of Modern Childhood will present toys, dolls and other objects which are rarely seen. One exceptional work that will be on view is a dollhouse built in 1916 for Neva Palmer, the daughter of New London textile manufacturer George S. Palmer. The dollhouse was modeled on Palmer’s Georgian Revival house, designed by Charles Platt, architect of the Lyman Allyn Art Museum. One gallery will feature a remarkable range of 20th century wind-up toys—everything from a Ferris wheel to a motorcycle, from Roy Rogers riding Trigger to a clown walking on his hands. Adults interested in political history will be amused by the Tammany Bank. Patented in 1873, it features a seated figure—most likely Boss Tweed—who deposits each coin in his jacket pocket.

The exhibition is co-curated by Abigail A. Van Slyck and Robert Skingle. Van Slyck is the Dayton Professor of Art History and Director of the Architectural Studies Program and Chair of the Art History Department at Connecticut College. Antique toy expert Robert Skingle graduated from Goldsmiths College at the University of London. He turned a hobby of collecting lead military figures into a career and became an antique toy dealer, specializing in toys from the turn of the century.

Play/Things: Toys and the Invention of Modern Childhood will include a full schedule of coordinating programs including a gallery talk by the curator; children’s workshops on topics such as doll-making, kite-making and flying; a special “Meet the Astronaut” Day; a children’s 19th c. style tea party; a Saturday Afternoon Film program geared to children and a gallery tour with an antique collector and dealer.

Dog on Wheels Plush toy and metal wheel framework c. 20th century
Dog on Wheels
Plush toy and metal wheel framework
c. 20th century
Jenny Lind doll c. 1850
Jenny Lind doll
c. 1850
Trade Cards c. 19th century
Trade Cards
c. 19th century
Westomere Doll House 1916 Craftsman unknown American
Westomere Doll House
1916
Craftsman unknown
American
Table Croquet set c. 19th century
Table Croquet set c. 19th century

Filed Under: Exhibitions, Past Exhibitions Tagged With: Dollhouses, Dolls, Playthings

Exhibitions

About the Collection
Permanent
Current
Upcoming
Digital
Past
Sculpture Trail

HOURS & ADMISSION

Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 am — 5 pm
Sunday: 1 — 5 pm
Last admission at 4 pm

We are located just off I-95. Take Exit 83 and follow the cultural attraction signs.

Calendar

Today
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
6:00 PM - Thames River Heritage Park Lecture- The Plant Family: Gilded Age Gossip, Gifting and the (Income) Gap
5
6
7
11:00 AM - Free First Saturday
8
9
10
6:00 PM - Exhibition Discussion: The Circle Game at the Mystic Noank Library
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
5:30 PM - Chromatopia Gallery Talk
19
20
21
11:00 AM - Science Saturday
22
23
24
25
6:00 PM - Thames River Heritage Park Lecture- Love and Brutality: The Mysterious Saga of Gallows Road
26
27
2:00 PM - Alexandra Stoddard Exhibition Opening
28
29
30
31
1
2
6:30 PM - Night at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum - February
3
4
11:00 AM - Free First Saturday
1:00 PM - Harriet Tubman: A Woman with a Railroad
5
Thames River Heritage Park Lecture- The Plant Family: Gilded Age Gossip, Gifting and the (Income) Gap
Thames River Heritage Park Lecture- The Plant Family: Gilded Age Gossip, Gifting and the (Income) Gap
Wednesday, January 4, 2023    
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Lyman Allyn Art Museum
  • Lecture
  • Special Event
Registration after 12/29: $15 Members / $20 Non-members The Lyman Allyn Art Museum will host Thames River Heritage Park’s winter lecture series, “Stories from the [...]
More Info
Free First Saturday
Free First Saturday
Saturday, January 7, 2023    
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Lyman Allyn Museum
  • Children's Programs
  • Special Event
Join us in the art studio from 11 am - 1 pm and create your own Print of an Egyptian Symbol! While you're here, explore [...]
More Info
Exhibition Discussion: The Circle Game at the Mystic Noank Library
Exhibition Discussion: The Circle Game at the Mystic Noank Library
Tuesday, January 10, 2023    
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Lecture
Join the Lyman Allyn Art Museum at the Mystic Noank Library for a lecture on the new exhibition, The Circle Game, on display at the [...]
More Info
Chromatopia Gallery Talk
Chromatopia Gallery Talk
Wednesday, January 18, 2023    
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Lyman Allyn Art Museum
  • Lecture
  • Special Event
Color is all around us, but what do we really know about it? Join Director of Exhibitions Jane LeGrow for an engaging look at how [...]
More Info
Science Saturday
Science Saturday
Saturday, January 21, 2023    
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Lyman Allyn Museum
  • Children's Programs
  • Special Event
This fun drop-in program, designed for children ages 7-11, encourages participants to explore the intersections between art and science. January 21: Beautiful Banjos TWANG! Learn about [...]
More Info
Thames River Heritage Park Lecture- Love and Brutality: The Mysterious Saga of Gallows Road
Thames River Heritage Park Lecture- Love and Brutality: The Mysterious Saga of Gallows Road
Wednesday, January 25, 2023    
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Lyman Allyn Art Museum
  • Lecture
  • Special Event
Registration after 1/19: $15 Members / $20 Non-members The Lyman Allyn Art Museum will host Thames River Heritage Park’s winter lecture series, “Stories from the [...]
More Info
Alexandra Stoddard Exhibition Opening
Alexandra Stoddard Exhibition Opening
Friday, January 27, 2023    
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
  • Exhibition Opening
  • Special Event
Join us in celebrating the opening of Alexandra Stoddard: A Colorful Life. See this pop-up exhibition, meet Alexandra Stoddard, and enjoy coffee, tea, and light [...]
More Info
Night at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum - February
Night at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum - February
Thursday, February 2, 2023    
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Lyman Allyn Art Museum
  • Special Event
Grab your friends and join us for drinks and art-making on the first Thursday of every month! Tickets include two drinks, light bites, and creative [...]
More Info
Free First Saturday
Free First Saturday
Saturday, February 4, 2023    
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Lyman Allyn Museum
  • Children's Programs
  • Special Event
Join us in the art studio from 11 am - 1 pm and create your own portrait of our "Heroes in History"! Celebrate Black History [...]
More Info
Harriet Tubman: A Woman with a Railroad
Harriet Tubman: A Woman with a Railroad
Saturday, February 4, 2023    
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Lyman Allyn Museum
  • Children's Programs
  • Special Event
Presented by Adwoa Bandele-Asante Join us for an interesting and interactive afternoon of learning with a live performance of Harriet Tubman: A Woman with a Railroad [...]
More Info
Events on Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Thames River Heritage Park Lecture- The Plant Family: Gilded Age Gossip, Gifting and the (Income) Gap
Thames River Heritage Park Lecture- The Plant Family: Gilded Age Gossip, Gifting and the (Income) Gap
4 Jan 23
New London
Events on Saturday, January 7, 2023
Free First Saturday
Free First Saturday
7 Jan 23
New London
Events on Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Exhibition Discussion: The Circle Game at the Mystic Noank Library
Exhibition Discussion: The Circle Game at the Mystic Noank Library
10 Jan 23
Events on Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Chromatopia Gallery Talk
Chromatopia Gallery Talk
18 Jan 23
New London
Events on Saturday, January 21, 2023
Science Saturday
Science Saturday
21 Jan 23
New London
Events on Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Thames River Heritage Park Lecture- Love and Brutality: The Mysterious Saga of Gallows Road
Thames River Heritage Park Lecture- Love and Brutality: The Mysterious Saga of Gallows Road
25 Jan 23
New London
Events on Friday, January 27, 2023
Alexandra Stoddard Exhibition Opening
Alexandra Stoddard Exhibition Opening
27 Jan 23
Events on Thursday, February 2, 2023
Night at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum - February
Night at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum - February
2 Feb 23
New London
Events on Saturday, February 4, 2023
Free First Saturday
Free First Saturday
4 Feb 23
New London
Harriet Tubman: A Woman with a Railroad
Harriet Tubman: A Woman with a Railroad
4 Feb 23
New London

CONNECT WITH US

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Visit Us

Lyman Allyn Art Museum
625 Williams Street
New London, CT 06320 USA
Tel: 860.443.2545
info@lymanallyn.org

Hours

Tues – Sat: 10 AM – 5 PM
Sun: 1 – 5 PM
Last admission at 4 pm
Closed Mondays & major holidays
Admission │ Directions

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Find it Fast

About Us
Privacy Policy
Refund Policy
Appraisal Inquiries
© 2022 Lyman Allyn Art Museum