The earliest records of dolls houses or "baby
houses" as they were also called, date back to the sixteenth
century, but these were exclusive, tending to be replicas of
wealthy family homes and were built as a record of the times
rather than for hobby or play purposes. During the same period
wealthy women in Holland and Germany created miniature houses
in a study of contemporary fashion and décor. During the
eighteenth century cabinet houses began to appear where
a dolls house was created in the interior of a beautiful cabinet.
The "doll cabinet" of Sara Ploos van Amstel is one
of the best-known examples and this exquisite work dates back
to 1745. However, it was not until the Victorian era in the late
1800s that dolls houses became truly popular. Though still not
seen as a hobby, many a Victorian nursery rang to the joyful
sounds of children playing with the dolls
house.
In the early
1920s a project was hatched to create "the ultimate"
dolls house. Queen Mary was an avid collector of miniatures,
and a cousin of the King had the idea of building the house and
presenting it to the Queen. Sir Edwin Lutyens, a renowned architect
of the time, was commissioned for the project. After the initial
shock he accepted the unusual request and set about the project
with great enthusiasm. "Let us devise and design for all
time, something which will enable future generations to see how
a King and Queen lived in the twentieth century, and what authors,
artists and craftsmen of note there were, during their reign",
he was quoted as saying.
This nicely summed up the work which was undertaken. After contributions
from 1,500 tradesmen, artists and authors the house was finally
completed in early 1924 and exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition,
to great popular acclaim.
Built to 1/12th
scale, the dolls house measures 102 inches by 58 inches, and
is 60 inches tall. Sir Edwin had to manage a project, which was
to involve most of the great tradesmen and artists of the times.
Great care went into sourcing the items for the house. The list
of famous names contributors is endless sewing machine
from Singer; real Champagne from Veuve Clicquot and Mumm; clocks
by Cartier; china by Doulton and even cars from Rolls Royce and
Daimler. All were lovingly crafted to 1/12th scale. Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle even wrote a short story (500 words) in a miniature
book for the library.
Exquisite furniture made from exotic woods fills the house
such as the large Victorian wardrobe veneered in amboyna wood,
which can be seen in the Queens Suite. A bathroom floor laid
in mother of pearl reflects the opulence the dolls house portrays.
Still on display
in Windsor Castle, and ever popular with the public, this is
truly a masterful record of a bygone era. It may be that we can
attribute the dolls house hobby, as we know it, to this project.
Many people saw the house and were inspired by it to collect
there own miniatures. Two of the most well known collectors of
the pre war years were Mrs Thorne, creator of the Thorne Rooms
in America and Mrs Carlisle in England who also created a series
of rooms. Both strove to re-create the ambiance of the periods
they represented. Whilst these works were not dolls houses in
the true sense of the words, nevertheless they were fine examples
of miniature house creation and doubtless also enthused all those
who saw them.
The hobby was
now growing in to that which we see today, and since the 1970s
its popularity has continued to grow in leaps and bounds. During
the early 1980s another great dolls house was created. West Wood
House was created by David West, so large that he even managed
to get stuck in it for half an hour, at one stage during the
construction. Other large projects are created from time to time,
but in general people enjoy the dolls house hobby on a smaller
scale, but it is no less rewarding for them because of it.
Nowadays the
miniature hobbyist has a world of assistance at their fingertips,
unlike their earlier "pioneers". Shops throughout the
world give easy access to the thousands of items, which go towards
the creation of a dolls house. This not only makes it accessible
but affordable. Books and magazines can help fire the imagination
with ideas and tips. Clubs for dolls house and miniaturist enthusiasts
enable ideas to be swapped and enthusiasm to be shared. From
those early beginnings in the 16th century we now have a hobby
that truly reaches the masses and has "something for everybody"
enquiries@dollshouseparade.co.uk
