The earliest known European dollhouses were the baby houses from the 16th century, which consisted of cabinet display cases made up of individual rooms. The term “baby” in baby house is coined from the old English word meaning doll. Dollhouses of this period showed idealized interiors complete with detailed furnishings and accessories. The cabinets were built by hand with architectural details, filled with miniature household items and were solely intended for adults. The baby moniker referred to the scale of the houses rather than the demographic it was aimed towards. They were off-limits to children, not because of safety concerns for the child but for the dollhouse. Such cabinet houses were trophy collections owned by the few matrons living in the cities of Holland, England and Germany who were wealthy enough to afford them, and, fully furnished, were worth the price of a modest full-size house's construction. A 17th century Nuremberg, Germany dollhouse The earliest known recorded baby house was commissioned from 1557-1558 by Albrecht V, Duke of Bavaria. Through print publications such as the International Dolls' House News (c 1969-2002 ) American Miniaturist, and Dolls House and Miniature Scene, collectors around the world shared photos, tips, queries and information; today, websites, blogs, social media, and online forums allow even more collectors to share their hobby. Anna Köferlin ’ s Nuremberg doll house, which was commissioned in 1631, was publicly displayed and advertised by Köferlin in the form of original verses composed on broadsheet.
The earliest known European dollhouses were the baby houses from the 16th century, which consisted of cabinet display cases made up of individual rooms. The term “baby” in baby house is coined from the old English word meaning doll. Dollhouses of this period showed idealized interiors complete with detailed furnishings and accessories. The cabinets were built by hand with architectural details, filled with miniature household items and were solely intended for adults. The baby moniker referred to the scale of the houses rather than the demographic it was aimed towards. They were off-limits to children, not because of safety concerns for the child but for the dollhouse. Such cabinet houses were trophy collections owned by the few matrons living in the cities of Holland, England and Germany who were wealthy enough to afford them, and, fully furnished, were worth the price of a modest full-size house's construction. A 17th century Nuremberg, Germany dollhouse The earliest known recorded baby house was commissioned from 1557 to 1558 by Albrecht V, Duke of Bavaria. Through print publications such as the International Dolls' House News (c 1969–2002 ) American Miniaturist, and Dolls House and Miniature Scene, collectors around the world shared photos, tips, queries and information; today, websites, blogs, social media, and online forums allow even more collectors to share their hobby. Anna Köferlin ' s Nuremberg doll house, which was commissioned in 1631, was publicly displayed and advertised by Köferlin in the form of original verses composed on broadsheet.
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1557-1558
1557 to 1558
R
1969-2002
1969–2002
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