The History and Evolution of Dollhouses

by Pam North

In a world fraught with chaos and constant change, it is understandable that one would seek a world of order and beauty, a place where control could be exercised and established, and balance achieved.
Enter the dollhouse, the perfect microcosm where one’s own individual tastes may be completely achievable and ultimately realized, whatever the period, décor, or theme. It is simply a toy home in miniature. 
The origin of the very first dollhouse is lost in history. Who knows when the first child arranged rocks,  pieces of wood. or other simple, natural materials to simulate his vision of his home? The earliest known miniatures were found in Egyptian tombs. Created nearly five thousand years ago, these were wooden models of furnishings, boats, servants, livestock, and pets placed in the pyramids, but were representations of essentials for the buried king to have in the afterlife.
Today's dollhouses trace their history back about four hundred years. In the late 17th  century in northern Europe, early versions of dollhouses came into vogue. Designed for adults, they were more displays of wealth than a venue of play, and rather than a depiction of houses, they were wooden cabinets with hinged doors that could be closed to hide the contents from prying eyes, dust, meddling children, and mice. Inside the “cabinet houses” were collections of tiny furniture and miniature household objects that often were versions of what existed in the owner’s own rooms. “Baby houses” took their name from being “baby” replicas of the owner’s home rather than any connotation of association with a small child. The toy aspect wasn’t to come until much later. Exclusively the playthings of adults, baby houses not only showcased finely made furnishings of exotic woods, metals, fabrics, and other materials, they also served as symbols of a lady’s wealth and refined tastes. Smaller doll houses with more realistic exteriors appeared in Europe in the 18th century. 
The 19th century brought changing definitions of childhood and the role of play, which contributed to a climate that ultimately spawned dollhouses as toys; however, it took the industrial revolution’s mass production methods to make them an affordable and mainstream commodity, allowing dollhouses and mini-furniture and accessories to become inexpensive enough to be regarded as toys. The most prized dollhouses and doll house miniatures were produced by Germany until World War I, with Central Europe, Britain, and North America as their markets. Germany’s involvement in WWI seriously and adversely affected both its production and export, creating a niche that quickly was filled by enterprising manufacturers in other countries.
After World War II, dollhouses were mass-produced in factories on a much larger scale, but with less detailed craftsmanship than before. By the 1950s, the typical dollhouses commercially sold were made of painted sheet metal, and were accessorized with simple plastic furniture.
Dollhouses continued to be a favorite plaything of American children throughout the 20th  century and remain popular today. They help acquaint children with architectural style, interior design and function, and household management. Dollhouse play also encourages kids to use their imagination to create their own stories about families, and to envision their own environments.
In dealing with the subject of dollhouses, the evolution of one aspect becomes increasingly important, and that is scale. In the cabinet houses and baby houses of the 17th and 18th centuries, scale was given only a casual nod, with proportionate relationships often slightly and happily out of whack. Vintage collections of dollhouse miniatures reflect these slightly skewed and haphazard mixes, each with its own inherent charm. Early versions of dollhouses of the 19th and 20th centuries also rarely had truly uniform scales, although scale ratios became closer overall than what their predecessors had portrayed.

Contemporary children's play dollhouses are mostly in 1:18 (2/3") scale and 1:6 (Barbie size), while 1:12 (1") scale is more common for dollhouses made for adult collectors. Other scales, even smaller, also have become popular - 1:24 (half-inch). 1:48 (quarter-inch), and 1:144 (dollhouse for a dollhouse), allowing the smaller dollhouses to be collected by those who have space considerations in their  living quarters, or who simply want to be able to collect as many as possible. Scale has become much more important with the evolution of dollhouses from a child’s plaything to a hobby for adults.
Beyond the toy and hobby aspects of dollhouses, they even have achieved art status and value as historic comments, making them worthy of display in many museums of stature throughout the world.
Dollhouses as a hobby offer endless possibilities for crafters and collectors, with all the levels of venues that are available in today’s market. Most dollhouses have open backs, with a finished exterior closing in three sides, but variations have evolved, including hinged halves, hinged fronts and roof sections. L-shaped floor plans, etc. From basic kits to room boxes to finished houses and shops to custom-built structures made to the customer's order, the hobbyist can enter at any level, progress in ability and conceptual design, and have the fun of fulfilling his imagination. A constantly burgeoning number of manufacturers and artists endeavor to tempt the collectors and enlarge the market of available products. The range of available furniture, accessories, interior decorations, dolls, pets, and other items has never been more extensive, and if the hobbyist prefers or is financially constrained to create his own, the technical help is there as well, from basic building materials and kits to realistic faux finishes to complete how-to instructions. There are books, classes, online seminars, shows, clubs, and contests to inform, inspire, and teach the required skills. Enthusiasts readily share their ideas, products, and no longer needed items online, sharing their interests and often creating relationships in the process. Dollhouses and miniatures provide a wonderful realm that encourages creativity, imagination, friendship, and a wonderful venue to create our own perfect worlds in one that often is decidedly less so.