A Tiny History of Dollhouses
The concept of miniature dwellings traces back to ancient civilizations, when Egyptians placed small clay replicas of their houses and belongings in and around burials. These models were intended to provide the comforts of home to the deceased in the afterlife. Although the tiny dwellings we know as dollhouses today are quite different from these ancient versions, their history also includes purposes other than play. Over the last 500 years, dollhouses have evolved from elaborate displays for adults, to useful household teaching tools, to enduring objects of imagination and aspiration for children.
Early Origins
The earliest known dollhouses were made in the 16th century, primarily in Germany, and later in Holland and England. Known as a “dockenhaus” (miniature house), “cabinet house,” or “baby house” (because of the size, not the intended audience), these handcrafted items were not initially made for children to play with — they served as display cases for wealthy adults to fill with miniature furniture, fabrics, and artwork that reflected their own taste and lifestyle.
One of the earliest recorded examples of a dollhouse is the Munich Baby House. Commissioned by Albert V, the Duke of Bavaria, in the 1550s, the piece was made by skilled artisans in the shape of a royal residence (instead of a wooden cabinet like the dominant style that soon followed). Though the Munich Baby House was lost in a fire in the 1600s, Albert V had the object detailed in an inventory of his household goods. Historians believe that the Munich Baby House was likely made for the duke’s entertainment, but some suggest it may have been built as a gift for his daughter, which would make it an early example of a dollhouse for children.
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An Educational Purpose
Throughout the 17th century, dollhouses remained as elaborate and whimsical showcases of a family's wealth; they were most often constructed in cabinets with doors that opened and closed like a china cabinet. In the early 1600s, however, baby houses also took on a more practical purpose. Nuremberg houses and Nuremberg kitchens, named for their primary place of manufacture in Germany, emerged as inspirational and educational tools to motivate and teach young women how to decorate and care for a household.
These types of baby houses were less ornamental than their predecessors, typically made entirely out of metal and sometimes consisting of just a kitchen. But they were no less meticulous, featuring tiny handcrafted brooms, kettles, copper cooking pots, and mini masonry hearths at the heart of the kitchen. Though they’re thought of as being instructional in nature, Nuremberg houses were also used for play, primarily by girls, and often during the Christmas holidays. This trend played another important role in the evolution of dollhouses: A well-preserved Nuremberg house from 1673 is another early example of a dollhouse built to look like a family home.
The Victorian Dollhouse
By the 18th century, baby houses had become popular in England. These structures commonly had detailed and realistic facades, including doors and windows, informing what we commonly think of as the classic Victorian dollhouse. They were often modeled after the owner’s home, and although they still functioned as displays of opulence, caring for them and decorating them also became a beloved hobby for women.
Until the mid-18th century, dollhouses were unique, one-of-a-kind creations. But with the innovations of the Industrial Revolution, the once custom-made dollhouses became much easier to produce en masse. This dovetailed with changing ideas of childhood in the early 19th century, when kids were no longer expected to weather the hardships of adulthood. Around this time, dollhouses started to be used more frequently as toys.
Dollhouses Come to America
One of the first mass-produced dollhouses available in the United States came courtesy of the Bliss Manufacturing Company. Bliss began producing dollhouses in the 1890s, even as the U.S. also imported the tiny dwellings and miniature furnishings from Germany. Despite becoming more mainstream in the early 1900s, dollhouses didn’t become affordable for most families until after World War II. The postwar economic boom, along with increased manufacturing materials and abilities, made the toys fixtures in playrooms throughout America. Mattel released Barbie’s first Dreamhouse in 1962, just three years after the Barbie doll’s debut, and by the 1970s, other major toy companies including Fisher Price, Playmobil, and Tomy were producing popular miniature toy houses as well.
Contemporary Dollhouses
In recent decades, dollhouses have evolved into collector's items and continue to be a passionate hobbyist pursuit. Over the past few years, social media communities have developed around a renewed love of miniature dwellings. Today, the toy also reflects a cultural shift — many people consider the meticulous structures a form of escapism and a source of solace and joy in a world with issues that often feel beyond individual control. Dollhouses continue to be cherished toys that exist at the intersection of craftsmanship, culture, and creativity.
