Tryon Toymakers

Eleanor P. Vance and Charlotte L. Yale began their craft revival work at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, where they were involved in the woodcarving and weaving activities that evolved into Biltmore Industries.

In 1915 the two women moved to Tryon, North Carolina, and opened Tryon Toymakers and Woodcarvers Shop. Beginning with simple designs, Miss Vance and Miss Yale taught children to carve and make toys. Their specialty was made-to-order furniture but toys were the most popular and profitable product of their firm. In 1923 they built the pink stucco English cottage-inspired Toy House in Tryon to house their growing business and to serve as a showroom.

Although the toys were designed by Miss Vance and Miss Yale, the little company employed only local people to make and paint the toys. Tryon Toymakers also marketed their toys as the products of mountain people, and readers of the company's catalog were told that purchase of the toys would help these people economically.

Misses Vance and Yale retired from Tryon Toymakers in the 1930s; the business now operates under the guidance of Chuck and Nancy Hearon. The toys on display in the Museum are early 1930s pattern pieces, used by the painters to guide them in coloring the pieces.

Tryon Toys:
Case 1  | Case 2  | Case 3

Tryon Toymakers Toys and Brochures

Lent by Mr. Floyd Daniel