Thursday 13 June 2013

A Brief Question Of Scale In An Old Dolls House & Some Very Old Miniature Kitchenware

 Am often asked by confused customers what scale furniture and accessories they should purchase for their antique or vintage dolls house, because many old dolls houses do not conform to scale.

  Often windows are either bigger or smaller in comparison to doors. Ceiling height and room size can be far too big or small in comparison to windows. But this to me is what helps give an old dolls house real character. In fact, personally I prefer the quirkier dolls houses where scale is non existant!

 So my advice is usually.....where scale is not obvious just disregard it and simply fill your old dolls house with what you like, regardless of size....and enjoy!!!

In this old 1930s house the cooker and sink are bigger than the back door (you can just about see it to the side of the cooker) but does it really matter?

In my 1930s Hobbies 186 Special dolls house, I mix 1/12th and 1/16th together and think it works well. This is an old photo so a little has changed since I took this....one day I may get round to taking some new photos!

 Although make sure before you purchase, that you check the measurements as there is no point in purchasing something that is  7" tall for a room that is only 6" high!!! (Yes I know it may seem obvious....but you have no idea how many times people have forgotten to check sizes  after being completely seduced by a lovely old item...hahaha).


A large Victorian/Early 1900s dresser just over 7" tall.
A large antique cooking pot.


A set of six antique plates measuring nearly 1 1/2" in diameter.
An antique wooden cutlery tray  measuring 2 1/2" long with some outsized cutlery.

The above antique items were listed yesterday to the Antique & Vintage Kitchen page on KT Miniatures. As you can see, they are all larger than a normal traditional 1/12th scale dolls house but would look super in an old dolls house where scale does not matter. 

2 comments:

Giac said...

Hello Celia,
I quite agree. There is a difference between a miniature and a dollhouse. These older dollhouses are special and magic because of the inconsistencies.
Very good advice!
Big hug,
Giac

KT Miniatures said...

Cheers for taking the time to comment Giac. Celia