paravia - Toy - 1850-1900 - Italy

Rare Antique Set of Decomposable Geometric Solids – G.B. Paravia & Comp. – Scientific Pedagogy (19th/20th century)

Fascinating and rare complete set of geometric solids for teaching nomenclature, produced by the renowned G.B. Paravia & Comp. (Turin, Rome, Milan, Florence) between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th.

This set represents a piece of history in Italian pedagogy. It was used in the schools of the Kingdom of Italy for the so-called "intuitive method", a precursor of the sensory materials of the Montessori method.

Main Features:
Material: Fine turned hardwood, hand-finished, with a beautiful patina of age.

Special Pieces: The set includes numerous decomposable solids (cut into geometric sections) designed to visually demonstrate concepts of volume, equivalence, and decomposition of shapes.

Nomenclature: Many solids retain their original paper labels with period names (e.g., Regular quadrangular pyramid, Octahedron, Oblique parallelepiped).

Container: Original wooden case with a sliding lid. The inside and outside of the lid bear Paravia's splendid advertising graphics, listing the educational materials provided at the time (maps, globes, inkwells).

Condition:
The set is incredibly complete and in excellent condition for its age. The wood is solid, with no evident signs of active woodworms. The labels are original and legible, though they show the natural wear that attests to its authenticity and school provenance. There are some natural inky stains from the period on the bottom of the box, which add charm and history to the object.