The Dénia Toy Museum, located at the Centre d’Art l’Estació, opened its doors last Friday to a temporary exhibition highlighting the city's industrial heritage. The display features a selection of pieces from the private collection of Jaume Gavilà Llorca, known for his work at establishments like the Negresco bar and Gavilà restaurant.
Beyond his professional career, Jaume Gavilá was a passionate collector of small glass bottles, printed booklets, antique plates, cameras, and especially, old toys. He amassed one of the most significant private collections of locally manufactured toys in Dénia.
The exhibition, which served as a tribute to Jaume Gavilá, was attended by the Mayor of Dénia, Rafa Carrió; the Councillor for Culture, Raúl Garcia de la Reina; the Museum Director, Massu Sentí; the President of the Amics del Joguet de Dénia association, Maite Carrió; the collector's widow, Victoria Montserrat, and their daughters, Victòria and Pepa Gavilà Montserrat. Local researchers, friends, and antique toy enthusiasts were also present.
This exhibition is the result of a collaboration between the Gavilà Montserrat family, the Amics del Joguet de Dénia association, and the Museum's management. It showcases 24 pieces from the original collection of 110 toys, mostly manufactured in Dénia workshops. The family has temporarily loaned these works to the City Council for public enjoyment.
The items are organized into three display cases: pull-along toys, means of transport, and sports toys. The majority were produced by the Asensio Linares Vallalta factory in the 1950s. They are characterized by painted wood with pure colors and stencil decorations, a style typical of local post-war production.
Among the trucks, boats, cars, and toy kitchens, the "American Express" train, built in 1950, stands out. Museum Director Massu Sentí considers it "the best piece in the collection" due to its unusual size. The exhibition also includes nostalgic items like horse-drawn carts, scooters, tricycles, and two 1970s bicycles from the well-known brand Juguetes Sauquillo.
Mayor Rafa Carrió thanked the family for loaning the collection and emphasized the importance of citizen involvement in building local heritage, encouraging other collectors to follow suit. Maite Carrió recalled Gavilà's fondness for local toys, a hobby stemming from his proximity to the port factories, and noted that the exhibition fulfills his wish to have these pieces displayed at the municipal museum.
Although the current space limits the number of exhibited pieces, there are plans to expand the exhibition in the future. Additionally, Councillor for Culture, Raúl García de la Reina, announced the intention to revive the Fira del Joguet Antic i del Coleccionisme de Paper (Antique Toy and Paper Collectibles Fair), which has not been held since 2019. Municipal technicians have tentatively set the date for December 2026.
