Tuesday 14 May 2013

Some Curious Antique Miniatures Including A Cast Iron Bath


Amongst some of the more unusual antique items that went up for sale this afternoon on KT Miniatures website, is a wonderful solid cast iron bath....it weighs an absolute ton!
It is very old and curiously it is marked DOLIBATH underneath. If anyone has any information about this manufacturer I would love to hear about it.  This bath, as you can see, has some wear to the paintwork but in my opinion it simply adds to the character. 
  This can be found on the Antique 1/12th Bathroom Page.
Then there is this rather lovely wooden firescreen with an Old Mother Hubbard Who Went To Her Cupboard fame motif on the front! 
 On the reverse it is stamped BRITISH MADE. I am not sure of the exact age or make but isn't it cute?
 Although Strombecker furniture seems to be quite prevalent over in the States, we don't see it in abundance over here. I do love this particular armchair and footstool though...so very 1930s in style! Forget the slight worn patches...just like a real armchair, one can always cover with a throw if one so wishes! 
 Then there is this rather odd antique tin item. I have listed it as a tin cupboard however am not entirely convinced as it could be a safe or  an old fashione stove even? It does have an opening door with RD and a number embossed into it. 

Does anyone know what manufacturer's name the RD stands for?
These three items can be found on the Antique 12th Living Room Page
And finally.....
...there is this rather lovely wooden cutlery table. It is believed to be Late Victorian/Early Edwardian.
 The table top opens out in two halves to reveal the cutlery tray and has a shelf underneath.
 I have included two antique spoons with it.
This can be found on the Antique 1/12th Kitchen Page

6 comments:

Giac said...

Hello celia,
What wonderful items! The tub and the screen are fantastic. What great items to collect.
Big hug,
Giac

KT Miniatures said...

Thanks Giac. Some of these are quite unusual-would be great to find out more about the manufacturers of the bath and the little tin cupboard. Celia

Rebecca said...

Hi Celia, I don't know about the other items, but Marion Osborne wrote an article about items marked British Made (http://www.dollshousespastandpresent.com/magazine12mar2012p7.htm) - some were also marked SMS, some also Sunray Series, and some juts 'British Made'. One maker, two, or three? we don't know - but here is another item to add to the mix!

KT Miniatures said...

Hi Rebecca. Many thanks for your input. Have just hopped over to DHPP magazine archives and found Marion's article. I knew I had seen something about British Made somewhere before but couldn't remember where! Now I know.

Could well be linked to SMS/Sunray Series but who knows. Maybe one day,something will come along and give us a definitive answer to this conundrum. Thanks again. Celia

Troy said...

Great items! I really like the cast iron tub. I wonder if it was a salesman's sample or a dollhouse piece?

KT Miniatures said...

Hi Troy...I think the bath is a toy rather than a salesman's piece...simply because of the name "Dolibath" that is embossed underneath-it sounds very childlike. However, I could well be wrong as I have never come across that trade name before and as yet, not been able to track down any info concerning it. Celia