Tips for Displaying your Toy Collection for Maximum Attention

By Cybele Elaine Werts
CybeleW@aol.com
www.supertechnogirl.com
 
 
I started buying toy cash registers circa 1984, but really I didn't think of them as a collection for many years. They sat on my windowsill, fading from the sunlight and collecting more dust than they probably appreciated. There came a certain time, however, when I realized that I had more than just a bunch of toys cluttering up my livingroom, but rather a gen-you-ine collection. So I bought some bookcases and started displaying my little beauties for everyone to appreciate. Somehow, having them organized and on display validated them as a real collection.

If you'd like your collection to be appreciated, you might want to give some thought to how it's displayed. I recommend that you use clear acrylic shelving because it is almost invisible and doesn't take over your collection. You will also want to use drywall anchors to install your shelving which supports up to 30 pounds. Sample photo below.

The main thing is to organize your items in some sort of manner. Some of the possibilities are these:

Type:
Toys versus decorative items – example in photo of toy piggy banks or stuffed, mechanical and play toy pigs
Theme – example in photo of Disney themed toy cash registers
Abilities – example in photo of musical toy cash registers
Maker – group items by who made them, such as Marx or Tomy in the case of toys
Color – Organize by grouping items of similar color together

Size
Miniatures versus medium or large size – example in photo of miniature toy cash registers

Age
Antique (100+ years old), Vintage (100- years old) or contemporary. These are general descriptions. Example show in photo of toy cash registers from the early 1900's.

Material
Metal, plastic, wood, ceramic or something else – example in photo of ceramic toy cash registers

Examples of Shelving Types for Collectibles

Special thanks to my friend Karen Mikkelsen for sharing her piggy collection with me!