A Brief History of Dolls' Houses

These days we tend to see doll's houses as nothing more than a child's play thing. I am sure that there are many of you out there who can remember playing with doll's houses as a child. Yet the concept of a dolls' house has not always been thus. A couple of hundred years ago, the idea of letting a small child play with a precious dolls' house would have been unspeakable. With this article I aim to give a brief history of the dolls houses and maybe change a few of your rigid perception about dolls' houses.

My interest in dolls' houses was ignited a few months ago when I heard a report on the radio about the people who make them. These were fully grown men speaking with a passion for their pursuit - dolls' houses. Never before had I heard such enthusiasm and zeal, and all for something I had always perceived as nothing more than an outdated child's pastime.

The Beginning

The earliest evidence of dolls' house like memorabilia can be found in Egypt - 5000 year old wooden models of boats, animals and people were found on various archaeological expeditions. Though it is quite likely that their use and purpose was quite different to that of their modern counterparts. It goes to show us that throughout history, people have found a use for or had a fascination with small models of everyday objects. More then a miniature model, these objects represent encapsulations of a real life object; a type of time capsule better than any history book.

Going Big

Although they had been around for a long time before, dolls' houses became big in northern Europe; especially in Germany, Great Britain and the Netherlands. They took the form of large closet style pieces with lots of small rooms adorned with miniature furniture and people. Such a thing would not come cheap of course, only the most noble could boast such a show of opulence. These types of dolls' houses also served to record the layout and decoration of a house. Indeed, on a visit to a stately home in Britain, one often comes across a well kept dolls' house which shows us exactly how people used to live, from the their dress sense to their sense of taste in household furniture.

A Child's Play Thing

With the start of the industrial revolution in Britain, came an exponential increase in the manufacture of goods. Suddenly, dolls' houses and dolls' house accessories could be produced in massive numbers and at a fraction of the price. No longer were dolls' houses the play things of the rich and famous, suddenly the market had opened up to millions more people. Cheaper prices made them viable toys for children. While it is fair to say that dolls' houses enjoyed large popularity in Victorian times, they are still massive today. Not only do they appeal to children however, both children and adults alike find please in building and furnishing homes on a miniature scale.

Getting Started

Nowadays it is possible to create a doll's house on budget. The biggest expense is the actual house which when bought in effect is just an empty shell. These come in all different shapes and sizes; from modern to Victorian dolls' houses. If feeling more adventurous, one can make the house from scratch. The next expense comes from furnishing the house; buying tables, sofas, wardrobes etc. It does not all have to be bought at once however, let it be a hobby that lasts a year, two years or even a life time. A dolls' house can give hours of creative fun for the whole family.

Richard Merry

Victorian Dolls' Houses

I am a computer studies graduate now studying Spanish and Italian. My interests cover a broad range of subjects; from computing to archery, languages to model making. I love the idea of writing to a potential audience of thousands!

Victorian Dolls' Houses [http://www.victoriandollshouses.co.uk/]