DOLL FURNITURE
Introduction | Doll Furniture | Cooking Accessories | Laundry & Housekeeping | Doll Toys | Doll Displays | Bibliography
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DOLL FURNITURE
Miniature furniture runs the gamut of furniture styles depending on the era in which it was produced, starting with the ornate styles of the 17th century Renaissance period, continuing through the plainer, though elegant William and Mary Period, the even simpler Queen Anne period, the Early American periods, and finally into the Victorian Age, the turn of the 20th century and into the modern era. [McClinton, 10-11]
Although some miniature furniture was made as salesmen’s samples, most pieces in the earliest periods were made as toys or as trinkets for adults. [Lechler, 208]
The earliest pieces of doll-sized furniture were in the William and Mary Style (late 1600’s) and the Queen Anne Style (early 1700s). Chippendale (1750-1780) and Hepplewhite (1780-1810) were also popular styles in England and America up until the Victorian period began in the late 1800s.
The Victorian era was a high point for doll houses, and the miniature furniture of all sizes were made to reflect the ornate style of the era, including French influences and gothic style influences as well.
The materials used to make doll and miniature furniture were influenced by the style of furniture being replicated. Oak was often used for sturdy, simple designs. Other woods, such as mahogany and rosewood, were used for the more elegant styles. For economy’s sake, the most inexpensive woods were used for the parts of the furniture that would not show.
Every type of furniture has been reproduced for dolls, including: chests of drawers (the most frequently reproduced); chests on stands, highboys and blanket chests; lowboys or dressing tables; desks and secretaries; tables and chairs; candle stands, mirrors and beds. (McClinton, 12-21; 19-55)
Jumping forward to the mid-20th century, there were many manufacturers of doll furniture made from wood and plastic, all competing for a share in the booming market created for 8 inch dolls such as Ginny, Ginger and Madame Alexander’s Wendy/Alexander-kins.
Hall’s Life Time Toys began the trend with production of wooden furniture in 1942. Stombecker is probably the most well-known manufacturer of furniture for 8 inch dolls. Other companies include: Richwood; Pert-Pat Products; Cass Toys; Keystone; American Toy Products; Alexander Doll Company; Watko; and Mattel. More furniture was produced for Vogue Dolls than any other doll in the 1950s, although the doll furniture manufacturers did not make their furniture for one specific doll for the most part – but instead to fit any 8 inch doll. Oddly, at least to doll collectors, the production of doll furniture was evidently a small part of their business. Some of the Strombecker furniture was made of blond wood, some had decals, and some was marked for Ginny. There are many pink versions of Ginny furniture that are not Strombecker, but are marked Japan. It is unclear whether these Japanese versions were made while Strombecker was still producing Ginny furniture.
Many pieces of metal furniture were made for 8 inch dolls. J. Chein of Burlington, NJ is a very famous manufacturer of tin toys in the 50s. They made colorful nursery furniture for Ginnette style dolls. Other well known companies are Watko of Bronx, NY and the Martin Fuchs Co of Zindorf Germany. (Mahan, 4-5; 33; 70-71; 88-91)
Miniature furniture runs the gamut of furniture styles depending on the era in which it was produced, starting with the ornate styles of the 17th century Renaissance period, continuing through the plainer, though elegant William and Mary Period, the even simpler Queen Anne period, the Early American periods, and finally into the Victorian Age, the turn of the 20th century and into the modern era. [McClinton, 10-11]
Although some miniature furniture was made as salesmen’s samples, most pieces in the earliest periods were made as toys or as trinkets for adults. [Lechler, 208]
The earliest pieces of doll-sized furniture were in the William and Mary Style (late 1600’s) and the Queen Anne Style (early 1700s). Chippendale (1750-1780) and Hepplewhite (1780-1810) were also popular styles in England and America up until the Victorian period began in the late 1800s.
The Victorian era was a high point for doll houses, and the miniature furniture of all sizes were made to reflect the ornate style of the era, including French influences and gothic style influences as well.
The materials used to make doll and miniature furniture were influenced by the style of furniture being replicated. Oak was often used for sturdy, simple designs. Other woods, such as mahogany and rosewood, were used for the more elegant styles. For economy’s sake, the most inexpensive woods were used for the parts of the furniture that would not show.
Every type of furniture has been reproduced for dolls, including: chests of drawers (the most frequently reproduced); chests on stands, highboys and blanket chests; lowboys or dressing tables; desks and secretaries; tables and chairs; candle stands, mirrors and beds. (McClinton, 12-21; 19-55)
Jumping forward to the mid-20th century, there were many manufacturers of doll furniture made from wood and plastic, all competing for a share in the booming market created for 8 inch dolls such as Ginny, Ginger and Madame Alexander’s Wendy/Alexander-kins.
Hall’s Life Time Toys began the trend with production of wooden furniture in 1942. Stombecker is probably the most well-known manufacturer of furniture for 8 inch dolls. Other companies include: Richwood; Pert-Pat Products; Cass Toys; Keystone; American Toy Products; Alexander Doll Company; Watko; and Mattel. More furniture was produced for Vogue Dolls than any other doll in the 1950s, although the doll furniture manufacturers did not make their furniture for one specific doll for the most part – but instead to fit any 8 inch doll. Oddly, at least to doll collectors, the production of doll furniture was evidently a small part of their business. Some of the Strombecker furniture was made of blond wood, some had decals, and some was marked for Ginny. There are many pink versions of Ginny furniture that are not Strombecker, but are marked Japan. It is unclear whether these Japanese versions were made while Strombecker was still producing Ginny furniture.
Many pieces of metal furniture were made for 8 inch dolls. J. Chein of Burlington, NJ is a very famous manufacturer of tin toys in the 50s. They made colorful nursery furniture for Ginnette style dolls. Other well known companies are Watko of Bronx, NY and the Martin Fuchs Co of Zindorf Germany. (Mahan, 4-5; 33; 70-71; 88-91)