Vintage and Antique Dollhouses
Elaborate cabinet-style dollhouses (also spelled as "doll houses"), in which the rooms on one side of a structure are exposed like the shelves and nooks of a cabinet, were popular among wealthy and noble-born Germans of the 17th century. These show pieces were designed less for play with dolls than as curiosities, as they were often filled with real miniature pieces of silver, as well as porcelain dishes from Asia. Tiny chandeliers hung from ceilings, working doors with real hinges connected adjoining rooms, and mirrors hung on their walls. Chairs were upholstered, beds were covered by perfectly scaledbedspreads, and wool rugs were laid out on hardwood floors.
Early American dollhouses were largely influenced by their Dutch and German forebears. In fact, by the early 19th century, German companies were exporting a great deal of dollhouse furniture to the United States. As color lithography became common in the Victorian Era, the rooms of dollhouses were often papered with brightly colored wallpaper, while the exteriors sometimes featured patterns resembling bricks. American companies producing dollhouses on a large scale in the first decades of the 20th century include Bliss Manufacturing, Converse Toy and Woodware, Schoenhut, Tootsietoy, and Dowst Brothers.
One of the keys to maintaining the illusion of believability in a dollhouse is the believability of the objects within it. While miniature pieces of porcelain by such acclaimed potteries as Minton,Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, and Limoges are important, realistic-looking miniature furniture is crucial. Even a small chair is large enough to notice if the wood has been carefully carved and if the leather upholstery and caning is authentic. Tables with leaves must actually expand and contract, while dresser drawers should open and close.
By the 1900s, the list of American dollhouse furniture manufacturers was a long one, especially after World War II. Ideal, which made dolls such as one modeled after Shirley Temple, produced chairs, sofas, and floor lamps, as well as stoves, sinks, and other housekeeping pieces. Its Petite Princess sets are especially sought after. Renewal made colorful plastic desks and benches, as well as small items such as trash cans and radios. Other dollhouse furniture makers included Tootisetoy, which also made dollhouses, Fisher-Price, Marx , and Jaydon.
