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Vintage Sylvanian Families

Soft little animal families, with their vintage houses and furniture.

Sylvanian Families is a Japanese range, created by Epoch in 1985. Japan is therefore full of original families, houses and tiny accessories, often sold in bundles, sometimes still in their box.

In the guide below, I tell you their story and help you recognise the first series.

The guides

  • Sylvanian Families

    Launched in Japan in 1985 by Epoch, these soft little animal families won Europe over two years later. The first Japanese series, with their wooden and ceramic furniture, are true little treasures.

Searching in Japan

Keywords to paste into the search bar on Buyee, Mercari, Yahoo! Auctions or PayPay Flea Market.
KeywordWhat it means
シルバニアファミリーSylvanian Families
当時物vintage item

Where to find it in Japan

If you are travelling to Japan, these are the shops in the guide that stock it.

The full guide to shopping in Japan

Recent finds

  • A miniature red fireplace, slide and wooden swing in front of their Sylvanian Families boxes.

    Sylvanian Families · 80s

    Sylvanian Families, early swing, slide and fireplace, boxed

    The red slide, the wooden swing and the fireplace where you pictured a cosy fire: three classics from the early years, each with its box. Enough to let a whole family play in the garden and then warm up in the living room. Old boxes were often thrown away, so three at once is a lovely find. Before you fall for it, check in the photos that all the small parts of the swing are there.

    Toy line
    Sylvanian Families
    Condition
    Used, with boxes, completeness to check
    Listing price
    ¥7,980 · about €44
    Sale ends
    3 October at 15:37 (Paris time)
  • Small open Sylvanian house with a pink roof, a figure, clothes, hangers and small accessories.

    Sylvanian Families · Around 2000

    Sylvanian Families, members' club house and clothes (around 2000)

    These pieces were never on sale: Epoch gave them to members of its Sylvanian club. A house, a figure, clothes and their hangers, carefully kept for about 25 years. I should say that this is more recent than most of my finds: we are around the year 2000. The seller mentions slightly faded colours and a few stains on the dress. For anyone who loves pieces you cannot find anywhere, it is a lovely curiosity at a small price.

    Toy line
    Sylvanian Families
    Condition
    Used, faded colours, stains on one dress, completeness to check
    Listing price
    ¥4,444 · about €25