Dollhouse History

In America, when people hear the term "dollhouse," they think of a small house for children to play with. However, there is much more to it. History tells us that dollhouses were first designed for adults and children of high social status. A dollhouse can delight both the adult and the child. Childrenand adults feel special when receiving or planning their fantasy house.
Dollhouses began in Europe in the 1600s when they were referred to as "Baby Houses." These houses were made up of several cupboards. In the cupboards, everyday objects created on a tiny scale were displayed（展示）. The displays focused on the way people lived at that time. They showed detailed household（家庭）, routines with servants, and kitchen settings, etc. These were carefully designed, and only the upper class could afford to have them built.
As time went on, factories were built to make dollhouses. Germany was the leaderof dollhouse makers before World WarⅠ. These houses were shipped throughout Central Europe and England, and even to America. Later, the folding dollhouse became popular. Around 1894, an American company produced dollhouses that had four rooms. Children could share such dollhouses when they were playing games. During World WarⅠ, Germany needed their resources to fuel the war. As a result, other countries began to make more dollhouses.
After World WarⅡ,dollhouses produced in the US were usually made of plastic and metal. In the1970s, people became interested in wooden dollhouses again. Besides children, today's dollhouses are also designed for the adult collectors.


The folding dollhouse is the most popular type of dollhouse.