The exhibition is meant for both children and adults. While parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts can remember their childhood – admire dolls, bears and cars of their youth, children can play “Riču-raču” (a board game), walk the labyrinth, live the stories of well-known characters from children books – Pippi and Karlsson (A. Lindgren), Little devils (R. Blaumanis), Tom Thumb (A. Brigadere) and princesses.
There is a special showcase for gifts – everyone who wants to donate a gift (a certain toy) to the museum can do so by putting it in the showcase.
Brief insight into the history of toys in Latvia
Up to the 1930ies, the most beautiful and elegant toys in Latvia were brought in from abroad or custom-made. Children treated their toys with care, fixed them if it was necessary. Several generations could use the same toys over and over again.
The most famous toys factories in the world were The Lehmann Company, Kraus-Fandor and Margarete Steiff GmbH. Their toys have historical value nowadays and some of them are present in this exhibition. In 1938, there were 17 toys factories in Latvia. They made toys from wood and cloth. Due to World War Two, toy manufacturing was suspended in many countries (including Latvia). Children played with self-made toys: self-made rag dolls, wooden figures. Toys were expensive and rare in the post-war period as well.
In the 50ies, USSR picked up the production of celluloid toys, which were popular before the war. Factories made rubber dolls, which precisely reflected the most characteristic children hairstyles and clothes of that time. Painted papier-mâché horses with wheels were very popular.
The factory “Straume” produced mechanic toys – a doctor and a cook, which appeared in the store shelves in all of Latvia in the 1960ies. Clockwork toys – birds and animals – were among the most popular. Back then a new theme emerged in the toy world – space.
In the early 70ies, animated cartoons had the major influence on the production of toys. Famous Soviet cartoon heroes – crocodile Gena, Cheburashka, Karlsson and Buratino – were reproduced in toys. Shops offered expensive toys working on batteries – dogs carrying suitcases, dolls pushing baby carriages etc.
Boys loved to play with weapons and military equipment. Shops offered dolls dressed in different types of national costumes of Soviet peoples. In the 80ies, the factory “Dobele” started to produce rubber toys, which became popular and demanded in all of the USSR.
At the exhibition it is also possible to see witnesses of ancient times – dices, which were popular during the Middle Ages, pipes, brummer etc.
„Latvia during the Latvian War of Independence (1918-1921)”
The new exhibition can be seen at the National History Museum of Latvia from the 7th of October. It was opened by Valdis Zatlers, the president of the Republic of Latvia, and characterizes the events and the period from November 18, 1918 (the proclamation of Latvia’s independence) until January 26, 1921, when the most powerful countries began to recognize Latvia de jure.
The exhibition has two parts. One part of the exhibition is mobile and will be available in other museums, cultural centres and schools of Latvia as well. The second part consists of the exhibits and will be available only at the National History Museum of Latvia. Both parts of the exhibition are available from the 7th of October until the 22nd of November.
Photographs are provided as an evidence of history. This exhibition offers 200 historical photographs and documents.
Visitors can contemplate unique exhibits, such as orders, postal stamps, and conceptual designs. These designs were modelled by Latvian artists – Ansis Cīrulis, Konrāds Ubāns, and Romāns Suta.
This exhibition aims to reflect the formation of Latvia, the main events of the Latvian War of Independence (formation of army, struggle against the Bolsheviks, Battle of Cēsis, and Bermontiade), the return of refugees from Russia, the war damages, the introduction of Latvian money, as well as education and culture and daily life.
The authors of this exhibition wanted not only to highlight the Latvian army, the Latvian War of Independence and the 90-year anniversary of the Lāčplēsis Military Order, but also to create a picture of the beginning of Latvia – one of the most difficult periods in the history of Latvia.
The only known Lāčplēsis Military Order (complete set) will complement the exhibition on the 11th of November. On the 13th of November, Lāčplēsis Military Order will be exhibited in Cēsis, at the Cēsis Museum of History and Art.
The Exhibition Working Group consists of the following persons: NHML deputy director of scientific work and project manager – Irina Zeibārte (received the Annual Award of Ministry of Culture for the book/photo album 90 years of Latvia for coordination and successful realization of project), historians – Aija Jansone, Inta Robežniece and Toms Ķikuts. The artist of the exhibition is Ģirts Boronovskis.
The part of exhibition „Latvia during the Latvian War of Independence (1918-1921)” will be available at the Cēsis Museum of History and Art from November 27 until January 17 and at the Culture house of Skrunda from January 29 until February 12.
