Dollhouse Miniatures

In your hands, on your shelf

It's a small world after all.

In fact, dollhouse miniature enthusiasts will say many small worlds capture a larger world. The Egyptians, makers of the great pyramids, also recreated a pint-sized garden of Meket-Re. The miniature included a porch, sycamore trees, lotus and papyrus columns, and a copper pond filled with water. This early discovery was found among many others (bakery, carpenter shop, and weaver's shop) in a 2000 B.C. tomb.

Dress it up

Dollhouses from the late 1800s and to mid-1900s were popular for their realistic craftsmanship and entertainment value for children. The McLoughlin folding dollhouse of 1894 appealed to the middle class, who appreciated its practical fold-and-store use but did not feel slighted by "cheap" production. Interior rooms were copied from ornate parlors and the finer furnishings were made from wood and cast iron.

More than play

In a world of mass-produced plastic, the tiny, intrinsic details that go into furnishing dollhouses move this craft beyond fanciful toys. Museums recreate real-life scenarios from the past, an architect's vision becomes tangible, and artists reflect and freeze life for our contemplation.

In one room, you could explore a Holland village, a San Francisco townhouse, a London flat, a 15th-century king's hall, and a Scottish cottage.

Size matters not

Today, dollhouse miniatures come in three scales: one inch, half-inch, and quarter-inch. The half- and quarter-inch scales are to every 12 inches of the original object. The one-inch "Barbie scale" is one inch to every six inches, for ease of play.

Hobby and art

Want to give it a try? Kits can be purchased online or at a local hobby store, and no one can stop you from adding that personal, artistic touch.