I have had a life-long love affair with dollhouse miniatures, and careers in art education and interior design. I hope to combine these life experiences to help other miniature enthusiasts get more out of this wonderful hobby we enjoy, a hobby that often reaches the level of an art form. Susan Downing
Annie Horatia Jones Cabinet Dolls House
The Annie Horatia Jones dolls house collection is special because of the centerpiece: a group of ten dolls made to resemble family members, created to keep the memories of her family close. They were dressed by her Aunt Tamazine Billings whose original hand-written labels are still sewn onto their clothing to identify the family member they are intended to represent.
The Drew House
This dolls house was made in the early 1860s for the Drew family, hence the name. Some repair and restoration has been done to it. The furnishings are of good quality, many made by the firm of Schneegas of Waltershausen in German y, who specialized in quality dolls’ house furniture.
The house contains all the original furnishings. The kitchen is well stocked and has an up-to-date closed oven instead of an open range, which would be more appropriate for the time.
Here is a link to a wonderful Ileano Ottini video: http://www.ottini.eu/Drew-House/Drew-house.htm
Thanks to the Victoria & Albert Museum for the text and photographs.
Susan
Categories: dollhouses, Great Dollhouses, Victorian
Gottschalk Victorian Blue Roof Dollhouse found on Ruby Lane (Out of stock)
It is a huge subject, of course. I thought I would do a series of posts. The best approach seemed to categorize by time period, then by room or object. And I learned from hanging around Dougless Bitler at the Cabbage Patch (way back in the day), that authenticity is critical!
Categories: dollhouses, Victorian
Christopher Dresser’s (1834-1904) Roland Wall, in terracotta and burgundy, with a Victory frieze in indigo.
The answer could start with another question. “That depends. Which room? Town or country house?” When choosing the appropriate type of wallpaper for a Victorian dollhouse, it’s important to understand how wall coverings were used in the Victorian era.
Categories: dollhouses, Victorian, wall covering
