A “comprehensive and enjoyable” guide to the centuries-long history of dolls’ houses and how they illuminate our past (Books Monthly). Dolls’ houses are tiny slices of social history that give us a fascinating glimpse into domestic life over the last three hundred years. Through text and photos, Nicola Lisle explores the origins and history of dolls’ houses and their furnishings, from the earliest known dolls’ house in sixteenth-century Bavaria to the present, and looks at how they reflect the architecture, fashions, social attitudes, innovations, and craftsmanship of their day. She discusses the changing role of dolls’ houses and highlights significant events and people to give historical context, as well as taking a look at some of the leading dolls’ house manufacturers such as Silber & Fleming and Lines Brothers Ltd (later Triang). Included are numerous examples of interesting dolls’ houses, the stories behind them, and where to see them—including famous models such as Queen Mary’s spectacular 1920s dolls’ house at Windsor Castle. There is also a chapter on model towns and villages, which became popular in the twentieth century and also give us a window on the past by replicating real places or capturing scenes typical of a bygone era, plus advice for dolls’ house collectors, a detailed directory of places to visit, a timeline of dolls’ house history, and recommended further reading.

The unique dimensions make this book a miniature dollhouse. The outside hard cover with the brick house opens in the center like many dollhouses to reveal the ornate interior of the book. On the pages inside, the hundreds of stunning pictures show every detail of the most amazing dollhouses from around the world. This striking package will be irresistible to collectors and dollhouse fanatics. Covering the gamut of historical periods and international designs, each two-page spread explores a select architectural style from a medieval castle to a space-age apartment. Examples of miniature businesses and stores from bakeries to butcher shops to corporate offices offer something for every type of doll house enthusiast, young and old. Photographs showcase both the exteriors, interiors and the dolls themselves. The book focuses on the life-like details that delight dollhouse devotees-from running faucets to cut marks on an inch-tall chopping block to leather-bound books with pages of flawlessly miniscule text. Descriptions of every house and all its hidden secrets accompany each spread.

A landmark book by the country's foremost authority on antique dollhouses and their furnishings. Written in delightful prose with wonderful anecdotes and valuable descriptions, this work will become a standard reference for collectors and novice enthusiasts alike.

The fascination with miniature objects continues to grow. One of the most popular forms of "life in miniature" throughout the ages has been the doll's house, which appeals to a great variety of people, including architects, collectors, children, historians, and antiquarians. A doll's house is a miniature representation of its place and time, and this fascinating account of dolls' houses and miniature furnishings covers four centuries and many countries: Holland, Germany, France, England, the United States. Additional information on examples of Scandinavian, Italian, Swiss, and Japanese houses is provided. World famous dolls' houses described at length include Queen Mary's doll house, complete in every detail down to miniature bottles of real champagne in the wine cellar; Colleen Moore's spectacular castle with its diamond chandelier and gold (monogrammed!) forks and knives; Titania's Palace which has been called "a museum-in-little of Italian art"; the Stettheimer doll house with its unique art gallery of miniature originals by famous modern artists. - Back cover.

Moi Ali explores the fascinating world of dolls' houses.

For centuries people have been thrilled and enthralled by miniature masterpieces of craftsmanship, and today collectors from all walks of life are more numerous and more dedicated than ever before. The sheer pleasure of searching for, restoring and arranging the contents of a doll's house is hard to match, and as a means of better understanding the home life of former generations, can hardly be beaten. The first chapter sets the scene by describing the doll's houses themselves, because finding one that is interesting and which will be rewarding to furnish is the best way to start a collection of miniature furniture. The author then traces the fascinating history and design of doll's houses from the classic 17th and 18th century Dutch and German pieces, through the golden age of the 19th century, right up to the present day. Full-colour, specially commissioned photographs display the enormous variety of materials used in the manufacture of doll's house furniture, as well as the pieces themselves. All the leading international manufacturers are featured with handy collector's tips on the availability of the most popular pieces, finally, and informative section on collecting, restorin