Dolls’ Houses Through Time: The Real History Behind Miniature Homes + A Tour of a Private Collection

Video Description

Dolls’ Houses Through Time: The Real History Behind Miniature Homes + A Tour of a Private Collection Dolls’ houses have been part of European domestic culture for over 400 years, but their story is very different from the modern toys we often imagine. In this video, I explore the real history of dolls’ houses, from 17th-century “baby houses” created for wealthy adults, to the educational Victorian models that taught girls how to run a home, and finally to the mass-produced mid-20th-century versions many of us grew up with. Alongside the historical narrative, you’ll also see inside an extraordinary private dolls’ house collection. This tour highlights rare examples, changing architectural styles, and the evolving materials and craftsmanship used across the centuries. You might just want to watch this video for inspiration or just because you love stepping inside a dollhouse. Whether you’re here for social history, traditional toys, miniatures, childhood nostalgia, or material culture, this video offers a factual overview of how dolls’ houses reflect the homes, gender roles, class structures, and domestic ideals of their time. If you enjoy videos on social history, historic homes, working-class life, toys, or everyday material culture I would love for you to subscribe to the channel and join my amazing community of social history lovers in the comments. Every single one of you is so valued and helps me continue to make social history accessible. Famous dollhouses mentioned in the video : The Nuremburg house (now at the Victoria and Albert Museum) https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O98316/the-nuremberg-house-dolls-house-unknown/ Petronella Oortman's Tiny House : https://cabanamagazine.com/blogs/rooms-gardens/house-tour-petronella-oortmans-doll-house?srsltid=AfmBOor0HNtaNaKJVWF9LVsTCKP8oa29P90q13kW74zPAK3xmWZrjh_D The Uppark Dollhouse : https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/uppark-house-and-garden/the-dolls-house-at-uppark Queen Mary's Dollhouse : https://www.rct.uk/event/100-years-of-queen-marys-dolls-house-01-2024?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=10441782678&gbraid=0AAAAADiNZmzm5l1N5QQL0SaEDUPG53wA1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAiebIBhDmARIsAE8PGNIV07aiMN1M-0gyYi9Qc9RGmVxRt9Ic0Avdf09jNEcm9M16jqGZCgQaAjDREALw_wcB