Some Useful Lovely Miniatures For Your Old Dolls House Kitchen!

A few interesting antique treasures for your old dolls house kitchen have recently been listed to KT Miniatures website and a few you can see below.

First up, there is this quite ornate early 1900s soft metal German basket/tray. It still has the lovely red crepe paper type lining in place. The hooped edging and delicately decorative bottom is fully intact. As anyone who has handled these soft metal dolls house items will know, they can be quite fragile in young hands (or even old hands), so it is amazing that this has survived at all after all these years. 

It wasn't until I started photographing this early 1900s German kettle, did I notice the white water mark down one side. I wonder how many dolly teacups have been filled with water from  this kettle?

 

 And then there is this German metal electric iron, which even has what appears to be the original cord "flex" and plug on the end. It is becoming increasingly rare these days to find an iron like this fully intact. Ok, the handle is showing its age as it has lost a lot of the black paint but personally, I think this is delightful. Right at the back end of the iron  the word GERMANY is embossed quite clearly.

 

Now this particular piece intrigues me greatly, as at first I assumed it was of German origin.

But on close inspection underneath the metal dish are the words: BRTISH MAKE - which is quite unusual. On the underside of the dish cover is the word: BRITISH. I have never seen one quite like this before and I have absolutely no idea who the manufacturer could be. Needless to say, if anyone out there can shed some light on this item, I would be very grateful indeed.

This large scale gilt metal c1920s Britains teapot is rather lovely. The hinged lid is still attached, which is rather refreshing as these were so often snapped off. 

This would have originally been part of either a Britains Household Set or a Britains Kitchen Utensil Set. Standing at 1 3/4" high it is rather big, so would suit either a large scale dolls house or an old dolls house where scale does not matter.

All these items and lots more, can be found on the following link: Antique & Vintage Kitchen Page.

Sometimes it is useful to think laterally and two of these miniature yellow painted lead baskets have come in but are being sold individually. Although not made initially for a dolls house, they are actually from the 1930s Taylor & Barrett Costermonger set, but could be extremely useful in an old dolls house kitchen.  And even though they are quite tiny, measuring just 3/8" high, they would look fantastic in any antique dolls house, regardless of scale

Click on the following page to view: Taylor & Barrett/Barret & Son Page

A Few More Little Bits & Bobs From The Oxford Collection...

If you were following KT Miniatures Journal towards the end of 2015 you will have seen the wonderful rare pieces that came from one single collection - I called it "The Oxford Collection" simply because they came from an old Oxford Attic.  The lovely old miniature treasures belonged to several generations of the same family. Most of the rare items that went up for sale before Xmas have now been sold. So I have now begun to list some of the other pieces that came with the collection that may not be quite so valuable in monetary terms or indeed rare but are equally delightful. I will highlight one or two of the items on here...

Starting with this lovely wooden grandfather clock, with black and gold paper clock face and metal rim. I suspect that it is German and early 1900s. There is also a decorative moveable metal pendulum and an additional black textured border at the bottom of the carcass frontage.

Then there is this attractive German wooden sideboard, with a decorative diamond trim. At first I thought this had an air of Art Deco to it, but then the shape of the top curved side pieces led me to think that maybe this is earlier and more Art Nouveau style? 

 

One of my favourite pieces, although quite crude in construction, is this delightful Japanese wooden shelf with a stencilled coloured flower motif on the top. 

In addition, a previous young owner has created strips of mock books on lengths of cardboard which have then been coloured in with pencil crayon. They have then been inserted into each shelf and to help keep them in place, screwed up bits of newspaper have been inserted behind. I could not resist taking a peek at some of the newspaper bits and although I could not find a date on any of the pieces,  I suspect that this all dates from the 1920s/1930s. The above items, along with one or two other new additions that did not belong to the Oxford Collection, can be found on: www.ktminiatures.com/Antique_Vintage_Living_Dining_Room.html

This is a delightful handmade ottoman made from card, covered in pink silk and with a delightful image of irises painted on the lift up lid.

I understand that several members of the family that owned the Oxford Collection were talented artists so am assuming that it was a family member that made this. Although quite worn around the sides, it is exquisite.  

This can be found on:  www.ktminiatures.com/Antique_Vintage_Bedroom.html

And finally...

 there is this Japanese miniature house!!

There is quite a lot of fascinating detail, including a tiny window with lace curtain, a staircase and also ladder.

 

On one side there is a block of crinkled edged wood which I think is meant to represent a mill wheel?

And then when you lift up the rather splendidly detailed roof, you will find two holes inside which reveals that this was originally made to hold two bottles of some kind. I think the previous owners used this in their dolls house nursery as a miniature dolls house, albeit an unusual one. However, I also think that this could make a fantastic chicken house for your old dolls house back yard? This and some other weeny bits can be found on: www.ktminiatures.com/Antique_Vintage_General.html

I will have more odds and ends from the Oxford Collection to list over the coming days.

Celia

Happy New Year Everyone...

Now that the festivities are over, KT Miniatures has opened its creaky doors once more and it is hard to believe that I am embarking on my 20th year of trading...my goodness, it makes me sound so old! There is no doubt that 2016 will bring new challenges - with Mr KT now on the transplant list, I have had to put new strategies in place for KT Miniatures, but I'm quietly optimistic that all will be well.   

I was frequently asked last year if I have a specific day of the week for listing new stock to the website. The answer is "no", due to the unpredictability of circumstances here, I can only list new stock as and when I can, but will endeavour to highlight new additions to the sliding strap line on my Home Page as they are added. Also, my creating time has been greatly reduced but I'm bursting with new ideas which hopefully can be put into action in time for the February Thame Fair. Which leads me nicely onto the following...

A Date For Your Diary

Saturday 27th February 2016

Thame Dolls House & Miniatures Fair

KT Miniatures will be there!

Plus More Dates For Your Diary Coming Soon...

Very shortly we hope to confirm at least two dates with our Bicester (Oxfordshire) workshop venue for this next Nostalgia In Miniature Workshop project. In the first instance, everyone currently on the 2016 Workshop Reserve List will be contacted and offered a priority place. Then after that, booking for all remaining places will go live on our Nostalgia In Miniature Workshops website. There is still time to add your name to the Reserve List, simply get in touch with either myself or my workshop colleague Robin - our contact details can be found on the following link:

CLICK HERE FOR OUR WORKSHOP CONTACT DETAILS

And here is a glimpse of the 1/12th scale version...

For lots more photos and full details including cost of this next workshop, please click on the following link:

 THE EARLY 1900S LITTLE GERMAN STYLE SHOP

And finally....let's hope that 2016 is a wonderful year for us all.  If life is proving challenging and difficult for you at this moment of time, perhaps the world of  KT Miniatures can maybe bring a smile to your face...even if it is just a tiny one! 
CeliaX

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM KT MINIATURES!

This is one of my most favourite images from a particular 1930s Golden Wonder Book by Anne Anderson (The Little Match Girl), and I decided to use it on here for my very last posting on KT Miniatures Journal for 2015.  I hope you have enjoyed KT Miniatures website and  KT Miniatures Journal this year.

Before I go, I would just like to mention that at last the brand new promotional page for our next Nostalgia In Miniature Workshops project  has just gone live today. The project is called - The Early 1900s Little German Style Shop.

In the photo above, you can see a partial view of the 1/12th scale version of  The Early 1900s Little German Style Shop project without the counter. You can see a glimpse of the glazed cupboard, opening drawers, one of two side cabinets with shelves, the mirrored door and the attractive chequered painted floor.

For those of you who are very much into antique and vintage dolls houses, this may appeal to you. We are offering the project in both 1/12th scale and 1/24th scale this time.

 
We like to describe this as being discreetly aged, with an air of faded elegance. It will be extremely versatile,  as the shelves can be configured in various ways within the basic shell, and the whole project can be adapted to suit.  If you are interested in putting your name onto our 2016 Workshop Reserve List, and therefore be offered a priority place when booking goes live in January, please contact either Robin or myself by email. For full details, including price, dimensions, venue, etc. please click on the following link:
www.miniatureworkshops.com/The_Early_1900s_Little_German_Shop.html

Well, that is it from me now folks, time to sign off for another year. Thank you for your company here on KT Miniatures Journal, I hope to be back open again for business on the 2nd January 2016.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE & HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU
FROM
KT MINIATURES

Bye for now & see you again in 2016
CeliaXX 

KT Miniatures Closing Early For The Festive Season - Please Place Your Orders Now To Avoid Disappointment!

This is just a quick message to let you know that KT Miniatures will be closing a little earlier than normal for this time of year. In fact, I will be closing this coming Friday 11th December so please do place your pre-Christmas orders now to avoid disappointment. 

CeliaX