The exhibition of religious toys is a unique collection of miniature chapels, altars and dozens of in habits and vestments, as well as characters in wedding costumes from various cultures and religions. The collection - probably the largest and most interesting in this part of Europe - includes several thousand miniature items and toys, as well as a rich collection of old games and puzzles.

Religious toys were quite popular in Europe (mainly in Italy) during the XIX and at the beginning of the XX century; they were used to introduce children to religious rituals and invigorate their spiritual life. Nunneries, miniature altars fully equipped with liturgical artefacts, and beautifully decorated chapels aimed at encouraging children to voluntary vocations and joining monasteries. Playing out “weddings”, “ christenings” or even “funerals” helped familiarize children with the essence of important life events and the difficult subject of death.  

The beginnings of religious toys from the Catholic culture, date back to the XIII century, their homeland being Naples, where the first crib was built - a toy with a very strong religious context. Quite quickly,  the passion of making more complicated cribs spread over the whole area and everyone, from royal families and Italian aristocracy, to craftsmen and poor peasants, considered making the most beautiful crib a point of honour. They were made very realistically, and although the main figures were the Sacred Family, the whole scenery of the Birth of Jesus was brought out to the narrow streets of Naples, portraying the wealth and diversity of Italian architecture, the workshops of craftsmen, merchants’ stalls, home interiors. The figures were dressed in intricately sewn clothes, dolls’ shoes were made of leather, the jewellery was gold and silver. All of the objects and decorations were made with such care down to the smallest detail, from natural materials - for example tiny roof tiles, bricks and pots were made of clay and the tin and brass dishes were cast by bell founders. In the provinces, families made tiny fish, cheeses, fruits and vegetables from clay and wood, which, after being painted, looked “alive”. 

After a time, the tradition of building cribs progressed into the tradition of making miniature churches, chapels and altars - which you can see in the present exhibition. 

Contemporary religious toys feature traditional cribs (greatly simplified in comparison to the Neapolitan ones), but also other toys connected with Christmas - advent calendars, toy-scenes with Father Christmas, toys associated with All Souls’ Day - Mexican skeletons and skulls in varied shaped and sizes, miniature coffins, figurines of the dead. We mustn’t forget one very popular toy for small children - Noah’s Ark, which in many forms is produced even by mass toy companies (Playmobile).

Religious toys are not restricted, however, to the Catholic faith. Miniature objects connected with conducting religious ceremonies are found in Buddhism, Judaism and African religions.

Main exhibition work: Aneta Popiel-Machnicka
Co-operation: Bożena Donnerstag, Zofia Jusiak
Translation: Jessica Mulligan