COOKING ACCESSORIES
Introduction | Doll Furniture | Cooking Accessories | Laundry & Housekeeping | Doll Toys | Doll Displays | Bibliography
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COOKING ACCESSORIES
The kitchen became the hub of household activities from the mid 19th century onward. Food preparation was time-consuming and, unless the family was wealthy enough to afford a cook, children needed to be kept in the kitchen to be supervised and to help when they were old enough to do so. Some miniature kitchens, kitchen appliances, furniture etc. were made as salesmen’s samples, which were made by manufacturers, cabinet makers etc. who sold full size furniture, kitchen equipment and other household objects to adults. These tiny reproductions were given to traveling salesmen as advertisements so they could take orders, and they were also placed in shop windows. Most of these wonderful objects were actually toys made for fun, and also as learning resources for girls so they could learn to be good homemakers. Many fine toys of this era were made in Germany, France and England. Starting in the early twentieth century, both the United States and Japan produced many kitchen toys as well. [Punchard, 1] [McClinton, 3-6; 10] Catalogs of the period are excellent resources to research kitchen related toys.
The love of miniature items goes back to the 16th and 17th centuries, and into the early 19th century. These mid-sized objects were often displayed in cabinets, and were made in England, Germany, Holland, Italy and France. They might have been made as gifts to wealthy children, but surely they were made for display not actual play. [McClinton, 3-6]
Again, the gifts of miniature kitchens, stoves and cooking equipment can be traced to a desire to educate little girls, and foster the love of something that would likely become their lifelong duty. Here is a quote from a wonderful book that I wish I could find in a library or for sale. The introduction of “Family Daughter’s Cooking School for Play and Life”, 1896 says:
So I wish you my child, a pleasant success in all your undertakings with recipes old and new. Keep on growing, little daughter of the family, through happy play into serious life.
[Stille, 13]
This sentiment was behind the lively production of doll kitchens in the 18th century, right through the present day. Nuremberg, German was a prolific center for the production of these play kitchens. [Stille, 21]
Simpler doll kitchens, made for the middle classes, came into wide production during the later parts of the 19th century. It is during this period that real, working iron stoves came into vogue. There was a special delight for children to cook with a child-size stove and utensils.[Stille, 31-33] The industrial age in the 1890s brought many kinds of small machines, such as butter making machines and iceboxes. [Stille, 45]
Brighter kitchen colors became popular in the early 20th century, now that kitchens had transitioned to energy sources that no longer covered walls and furnishing with soot. Marklin Brothers of Germany produced many toy stoves during this period. Marklin was one of the few companies to survive World War I. [Stille, 47, 54, 75] Toy companies also suffered during World War II, when it became virtually impossible to purchase items made in Europe. Homemade kitchens made out of available supplies were often the only options during this period. [Stille, 79] Small wooden kitchens were manufactured in the 50s and sheet metal appliances and furniture began to appear. [Stille, 91]
The kitchen became the hub of household activities from the mid 19th century onward. Food preparation was time-consuming and, unless the family was wealthy enough to afford a cook, children needed to be kept in the kitchen to be supervised and to help when they were old enough to do so. Some miniature kitchens, kitchen appliances, furniture etc. were made as salesmen’s samples, which were made by manufacturers, cabinet makers etc. who sold full size furniture, kitchen equipment and other household objects to adults. These tiny reproductions were given to traveling salesmen as advertisements so they could take orders, and they were also placed in shop windows. Most of these wonderful objects were actually toys made for fun, and also as learning resources for girls so they could learn to be good homemakers. Many fine toys of this era were made in Germany, France and England. Starting in the early twentieth century, both the United States and Japan produced many kitchen toys as well. [Punchard, 1] [McClinton, 3-6; 10] Catalogs of the period are excellent resources to research kitchen related toys.
The love of miniature items goes back to the 16th and 17th centuries, and into the early 19th century. These mid-sized objects were often displayed in cabinets, and were made in England, Germany, Holland, Italy and France. They might have been made as gifts to wealthy children, but surely they were made for display not actual play. [McClinton, 3-6]
Again, the gifts of miniature kitchens, stoves and cooking equipment can be traced to a desire to educate little girls, and foster the love of something that would likely become their lifelong duty. Here is a quote from a wonderful book that I wish I could find in a library or for sale. The introduction of “Family Daughter’s Cooking School for Play and Life”, 1896 says:
So I wish you my child, a pleasant success in all your undertakings with recipes old and new. Keep on growing, little daughter of the family, through happy play into serious life.
[Stille, 13]
This sentiment was behind the lively production of doll kitchens in the 18th century, right through the present day. Nuremberg, German was a prolific center for the production of these play kitchens. [Stille, 21]
Simpler doll kitchens, made for the middle classes, came into wide production during the later parts of the 19th century. It is during this period that real, working iron stoves came into vogue. There was a special delight for children to cook with a child-size stove and utensils.[Stille, 31-33] The industrial age in the 1890s brought many kinds of small machines, such as butter making machines and iceboxes. [Stille, 45]
Brighter kitchen colors became popular in the early 20th century, now that kitchens had transitioned to energy sources that no longer covered walls and furnishing with soot. Marklin Brothers of Germany produced many toy stoves during this period. Marklin was one of the few companies to survive World War I. [Stille, 47, 54, 75] Toy companies also suffered during World War II, when it became virtually impossible to purchase items made in Europe. Homemade kitchens made out of available supplies were often the only options during this period. [Stille, 79] Small wooden kitchens were manufactured in the 50s and sheet metal appliances and furniture began to appear. [Stille, 91]