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Doll Houses
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Published: October 16, 2006
Doll houses are a vital part of doll history.
These toy homes span a 400 year history in the doll genre. The first doll houses in Europe were commissioned by wealthy patrons who wished to have replicas of their homes’ interiors crafted. Many fine European homes would display cabinets filled with these doll houses, which were perfect miniatures of a room.
Early doll houses served another important purpose in society: advertising. Before the invention of catalogs, furniture makers would create small, doll house versions of their merchandise and use them to advertise in the homes of their wealthy customers. The customers, impressed with the fine workmanship on the miniatures often would purchase the doll house version and display them alongside the adult piece. Full doll houses eventually became a standard item in a wealthy child's nursery, each doll house being unique and handcrafted.
With the European Industrial Revolution came a boom in the doll house industry. Factories in places like Germany began to mass produce doll houses for eager customers. By the end of the nineteenth century, factories in the United States began producing doll houses as well. The popularity of the doll house was on a steady rise, quickly becoming a child’s endeared plaything. The craftsmanship was not as detailed or exquisite as the earlier European doll houses, but furniture pieces still were constructed out of solid materials since synthetic materials were not yet cost effective to use.
After World War II, doll houses were produced en mass with synthetic materials, and on a much larger scale in factories. This allowed doll houses to be available to everyone regardless of income. Doll houses became a mainstay in most children’s nurseries.
In today's society doll houses still exist, although they are a far cry from the exquisite antiques of yore. Today’s doll houses are made from materials ranging from plywood to plastic. A person can purchase a ready-made doll house, or possibly build one themselves.
No matter the material, as long as there are children ready to play with them or adults wishing to collect a precious childhood memory, doll houses are a permanent fixture of people’s past, present and future.
Sources:
Did You Know? A Brief History of Doll Houses- Gemstone Publishing Inc. 2006. http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/scoop_article.as p?ai=9451&si=126. October 13, 2006
The Doll House Emporium. 2006. http://www.dollshouse.com. October 13, 2006.
These toy homes span a 400 year history in the doll genre. The first doll houses in Europe were commissioned by wealthy patrons who wished to have replicas of their homes’ interiors crafted. Many fine European homes would display cabinets filled with these doll houses, which were perfect miniatures of a room.
Early doll houses served another important purpose in society: advertising. Before the invention of catalogs, furniture makers would create small, doll house versions of their merchandise and use them to advertise in the homes of their wealthy customers. The customers, impressed with the fine workmanship on the miniatures often would purchase the doll house version and display them alongside the adult piece. Full doll houses eventually became a standard item in a wealthy child's nursery, each doll house being unique and handcrafted.
With the European Industrial Revolution came a boom in the doll house industry. Factories in places like Germany began to mass produce doll houses for eager customers. By the end of the nineteenth century, factories in the United States began producing doll houses as well. The popularity of the doll house was on a steady rise, quickly becoming a child’s endeared plaything. The craftsmanship was not as detailed or exquisite as the earlier European doll houses, but furniture pieces still were constructed out of solid materials since synthetic materials were not yet cost effective to use.
After World War II, doll houses were produced en mass with synthetic materials, and on a much larger scale in factories. This allowed doll houses to be available to everyone regardless of income. Doll houses became a mainstay in most children’s nurseries.
In today's society doll houses still exist, although they are a far cry from the exquisite antiques of yore. Today’s doll houses are made from materials ranging from plywood to plastic. A person can purchase a ready-made doll house, or possibly build one themselves.
No matter the material, as long as there are children ready to play with them or adults wishing to collect a precious childhood memory, doll houses are a permanent fixture of people’s past, present and future.
Sources:
Did You Know? A Brief History of Doll Houses- Gemstone Publishing Inc. 2006. http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/scoop_article.as p?ai=9451&si=126. October 13, 2006
The Doll House Emporium. 2006. http://www.dollshouse.com. October 13, 2006.
