No one has ever pinned down an exact date or inventor to credit for the fabulous invention of dollhouses, but what we do know is that, to date, miniature models of real-life subjects have been discovered from as far into the past as 400 years ago--in Germany.

The purpose of dollhouses in the 17th century was to entertain the children of the wealthy and privileged. Even today, girls feel very queenly when they're presented with handmade dollhouses, complete with miniature furniture.

With the example of dollhouses, we see that even toys which weren't intended to prepare children for adulthood were able to serve an educational purpose. Dollhouses were supposed to be whimsical and diversionary, simple rarities to amuse the heirs of aristocrats; yet, in their painstakingly handmade wooden craftsmanship and their interior decoration with handmade furniture and fixtures, there were lessons about architecture and design.

Like the first dollhouses themselves, high-end dollhouse furniture got its start in Germany, as well. In the 1850s and 1860s, the company Biedermeier made most of the high-end furniture on the market. Other German dollhouse outfitters over the years have included Rock & Graner, Christian Hacker, Mystery Houses & Furniture, Whitney Reed, and Austrian Bronze.

Dollhouses have been able to sustain their popularity over the years because of the endless possibilities for their interiors. No item is too minute, no furnishing too intricate. Furniture has been crafted in walnut, oak, mahogany, and cedar. Kitchens have been filled with teeny china sets, stem ware, sterling silverware, linen tablecloths, glass pitchers. Handwoven throw rugs adorn living rooms. Tiny checkered quilts are essential for bedrooms. The rocking chair has also been a popular addition for little enclosed porches throughout time.

When items are discontinued, they immediately increase in value, keeping the historical and collectible import of antique dollhouses and furniture promisingly high.

Dollhouses have also become part of our artistic culture, as many top museum feature traveling antique miniature exhibits, which draw continuous crowds.

Though today, Barbie mansions and plastic homes for plastic dolls have become somewhat popular among children, we're certain that the handmade dollhouse will always have its place in history and in the homes of collectors and their heirs.

+ click to zoom