Dollhouses and miniatures have been around for hundreds of years. While it is not known exactly when miniatures and dollhouses first came into existence, history tells us that the Egyptians placed miniature models of their favorite things, boats, pets, furnishings, etc., in their tombs as part of their religious beliefs. As time passed, the continued existence of miniature models, created after their real life counterparts, flourished and grew.

During the time of the Industrial Revolution and the formation of factories to manufacture goods, Germany became widely known for the dollhouses they created. They created some of the most lavish dollhouses of that period. During this time, (around the mid-sixteenth century, 1500-1600), aristocrats began using miniature houses as trophy cases to display the unique miniature treasures and fancy souvenirs they brought back from their trips to foreign lands. Craftsman also used the houses to display their hand-crafted wares such as miniature blown glass statues, miniature wood replicas of elaborate furniture, and miniature tapestries and rugs. These houses became known as “cabinet houses” since they typically opened in the front to display the miniature items inside. The houses definitely were not “toy” houses for children to play with but rather elaborate displays of wealth and craftsmanship that adults often “played” with rearranging the treasures inside and proudly displaying their collections.

Somewhere between 1550 and 1580, Albert V., Duke of Bavaria, commissioned a German crafter to create an exact replica of his own house in miniature which he called his “baby house”. Aristocratic guests who visited the Duke of Bavaria were so impressed by his “baby house” that they commissioned craftsmen to make miniature replicas of their own homes complete with handmade furnishings and accessories. The homes soon became a measure of taste, wealth, and social standing. This also introduced the concept of dollhouses to England and Holland as most of the guests of the Duke were from those countries.

After the start of World War II, Germany was not able to manufacture as many dollhouses as they had previously. This opened up the opportunity for other countries to enter the dollhouse manufacturing market. While other countries entered the dollhouse market, Germany remained (and still is) one of the top countries for manufacturing miniature items and dollhouse furniture.

In the 17th and 18th century, following the Industrial Revolution, dollhouses became teaching tools for young Victorian Ladies who learned the basics of homemaking and household management. This was the first time children were allowed to “play” with a dollhouse. During that time however, only children of the wealthy received dollhouses since they were still very expensive to manufacture, and, the young ladies needed to learn proper household management skills so they could host their own social events. Eventually, mass production reduced the costs of dollhouses so that children from all social structures could have one.

By the 19th and 20th centuries, children of all ages were enjoying dollhouses. Dollhouses evolved from treasure cases and collector pieces to children’s toys where hours were spent playing “make believe”, or creating stories about small families who lived within the houses. Even though dollhouses became children’s toys, adults never lost their passion for them. In 1924, King George V, the King of England, commissioned a famous British Architect, Sir Edwin Luytens, to create a dollhouse for King George’s wife, Queen Mary. Upon completion of the dollhouse, it was named “Queen Mary’s Dollhouse” and is presently on display at Windsor Castle in England. The Queen Mary Dollhouse is not an ordinary dollhouse. It is very elaborately decorated and everything inside it actually works – right down to the plumbing! Pictures of the dollhouse can be found at the Victorian Station Website.

There are other famous dollhouses built by and for adults in addition to the Queen Mary Dollhouse. Between 1934 and 1940, Mrs. James Thorne, a socialite from Chicago had skilled artisans and craftsmen create miniature replicas of American furnishings from the 17th century to the 1930’s. She created individual “room boxes”, 68 room boxes total, each with a different display of European and American furnishings and interior design. Each display is on an accurate scale of 1 inch to 1 foot. Visitors to the Art Institute of Chicago can see the Thorne Rooms on display. More information can be found at the website for the Art Institute of Chicago.

Today, dollhouses continue to attract many fans, young and old alike. Miniatures and dollhouses have evolved into a hobby that everyone can enjoy. With thousands of miniature shows, shops, magazines, books, and websites worldwide that are dedicated to miniatures and dollhouses, dollhouses and miniatures are sure to be around for many more hundreds of years.

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