ZABAWA W DOM: Favorite PRL-Era Polish Toys and Childhood Nostalgia Exhibition

This exhibition offers a nostalgic journey into the past, showcasing over five hundred favorite toys produced in Poland from the post-war era until the economic transition of the 1990s. It features both popular and hard-to-find items, with a focus on Polish-made toys and selected foreign ones.

The exhibition 'ZABAWA W DOM - ulubione zabawki z czasów PRL-u' (Play at Home - Favorite Toys from the PRL Era) is a captivating trip down memory lane, prepared by the Museum of Dollhouses, Games and Toys. It presents a fascinating collection of over five hundred beloved children's toys manufactured from the post-war period until the economic transition of the 1990s, encompassing both commonly available items and those that were once difficult to obtain. A significant majority of the exhibits are products from Polish craft workshops and toy cooperatives, often intended for export. The collection is further enriched by foreign toys, reflecting the diverse items found in children's rooms during the PRL era, including those from Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, East Germany, and occasional Western 'acquisitions' that were highly coveted. The toys vary greatly in character, materials, and craftsmanship, with many being unique pieces still in their original packaging, complete with labels or stamps. The common theme is broadly defined domestic life, as these objects allowed children to reenact daily adult routines and learn future roles, behaviors, and societal functions.