Guided tour
 
GROUND FLOOR
  

THE SHOP OF THE MUSEUM

This room has been reproduced as an old style toy shop. Here you will see reproductions in tin plate. Of "Payá", "Mariquita Perez", "Schuco", other toys like "Rico", "Juguetes y Estuches" also copies of board games etc. and in addition informative books on toys. In the shop museum you can buy many reproductions of the toys some of which are on show in the building.

ROOM 1. TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS

This room is now being used as an art gallery, and for displaying handy craft works the floor is in original mosaic tiles, and the ceiling is decorated in modernistic floral themes.

  

WELCOME CENTRE (MEETING POINT)

Here one begins the guided visit. Explaining the history of the house. We would like to emphasize the modernistic ceiling.

 

 


ROOM 2: CONSERVATORY

This room consists of the ground and first floor giving double height dating from 1897. And was the meeting point of the house when during the day it was a children's play area and in the evening parties were celebrated.

In the middle of the room you wild see a water well that dates from the XIV - XV Century. The leaded crystal door gives access to the hall and is dates from 1868, whereas if you look to the window above this crystal dates from 1897. As the ceiling of clear leaded glass which is of eighth columns of lead.
The walls if you touch them are cold an give the impression of marble. This technique was achieved by applying cement to he walls and then using a hot iron so leaving this effect and was known as "estuco al fuego".

FOUNTAIN PATIO

To the left on entering you will note the dragon which was brought from the street of horrors in Montjuïc Park from Barcelona.
Below this floor is a cellar which the ceiling has been constructed in Catalan architecture known as "volta catalana" (arched).

MODERNISTIC PATIO

Which decoration using the same style as in the conservatory.

ROOM 3: LIBRARY

One can consult books related to the world of the toy, from old catalogues, monographic books and infantile books dated on early XX century. The ceiling displays a decoration inspired by the seasons of the year. Of interest in the sliding doors is the beautiful decoration in the glass which was achieved by acid etching. In two corners of the library are two busts looking after the room, one is Miguel de Cervantes and the other corresponds to Horace.

 
FIRST STAGE
 

The visit to the first floor will be made following a chronological order through the modern history of the toys.

 


ROOM 5: TIN PLATE toys (1875 - 1940)

Here are the oldest toys of the collection, the majority made in lithographed tin plate. The plaster caissoned ceilings and the stoneware mosaic of the floor date from 1897.
 

ROOM 6: TRAINS (1900-1950)

In this room there is a scale model of scale 0 train of 14 square meters constructed according to the directives of years 1940-1950 when flat scale models were made (without relief), the reason why the tunnels and bridges are made of tin plate. The scale model is driven superimposing the hand of the visitor over a black hand adhered to the crystal. Once the mechanism is activated, one will be able to enjoy its day/night effects.

 

ROOM 7: WOOD MADE TOYS 1940-1950

After the Spanish Civil War, the economy was debilitated, and it was necessary to look for cheaper, newer materials for the making of toys. It is at this time when the toys of wood and cardboard stone began to appear lowering the price.

The ceiling of the room is a scenery with paintings from the Italian school, and the floor is of mosaic.
 

ROOM 8: TIN PLATE TOYS 1940-1960

During the war years they did manufacture a little tinplate. But it was very expensive and it reappeared after the war years 1950. The models are simpler and many of them are painted of a single colour, and not with the typical lithography as with the toys of room 5.
 
   
SECOND FLOOR
  
ROOM 9: THEATERE

This room is dedicated to the world of shows, theatre, cinema and magic. There is a mini scenario and 30 armchairs. In it one can find all the toys related to these worlds. At the moment it is closed for reformation.
 


ROOM 10: BOARD GAMES 1890-1960

It shows the different board games made in all type from materials, depending on the time. This room was formerly destined to be a library. Its floor is formed by small rich mosaics strongin design and colour. The caissoned ceiling is formed by the combination of two elements, plaster and the wood.

  


ROOM 11: PLASTIC TOYS

In 1952, the Payá house presented a new toy, called "Arre caballito", translation (gee up little horse). From then all the companies of the sector began to and as from that date all the toys were manufactured in plastic. On entering this room is impressed by the enormous fitted wardrobes (dated from 1875) the doors carved by hand, and the original finish of paint mixed with beer (yes beer!!) giving a varnish effect.
 
ROOM 12: HORROR STREET


As with the dragon mentioned before, also from the same "horror street" came all the other mummies etc., donated by Barcelona city council. You have to analyse this room with great fun.