Contemporary Dollhouse Bookcases

Henry VIII Royal Closed Stool in his bedchamber at Sudeley Castle in the Cotswolds, the home of Katherine Parr, his sixth (and final) wife.

Tudor Dollhouse Toilets

When thinking about Tudor dollhouse toilets, remember that almost all hygienic functions in the Tudor era took place in the bedchamber or an adjacent alcove. Castle dwellers and the merchant class had choices. They could have a garderrobe, for instance. a sort of privy that hung on the outside of the building. Or they could use closed stools and chamber pots. But for most of the population, human waste was disposed of in the most convenient places: out back in the garden or out front in the street. Dollhouse enthusiasts need not be too graphic about the subject. We have choices too.
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The 18th Century Room Setting as it appeared in 1917. (C) Victoria and Albert Museum, London

18th Century Room Setting

Curator Sarah Wood found that one of the most exciting parts of redisplaying the dolls’ house gallery at the Victoria & Albert Museum has been reviving the so-called ‘18th-century room setting’. This intriguing group of furniture, cutlery, kitchenware, wooden panels, and dolls was purchased by the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1877 when it was bought for ￡20 from a Staffordshire woman named Mrs. Thornhill.

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Miss Amy Miles Dolls’ House, at the Victoria & Albert Museum

Early Victorian Furniture

Queen Victoria’s reign over the British Empire lasted sixty-four years (1837-1901). Many styles of furniture rose and fell in popularity in that time. Combined, they have earned the generic classification – Victorian. There is one common thread, however. Victoria loved ornate styles. Generally, think of cluttered rooms, full of heavy furniture, and surrounded by plants, bulky fabrics and lots of china and glassware. The later Victorian era saw a modest lessening of overcrowded rooms until her son Albert (Bertie) succeeded to the throne as Edward VII and extravagance became the decorating principle.

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