The toy industry in Gröden/Val Gardena

During the 19th Century, millions of wooden toys left Gröden/Val Gardena each year. Dolls of all shapes and sizes, rocking horses, wooden animals and different types of toys filled the American and European markets.
Carving wooden toys developed from being a secondary occupation for farmers in the 18th Century, to a real cottage industry during the 19th Century. By 1850, there were around 2500 woodcarvers, men and women, working in Gröden/Val Gardena. The whole family was involved with even children having to carry out some easy tasks. Day by day and often far into the night, large quantities of identical toys were produced.