German Room Box Dollhouse

I'll start off the Christmas reporting with my biggest gift! 

This German dollhouse dates from the 1920s. Its form is unusual, being done in the open top "room box" style usually used for single rooms, but here incorporated into a two-story, five-room house. It's a big one, measuring 33 inches wide by 25 tall, and retains its original wallpapers, floor coverings, and curtains. The house came empty, but I spent the months it was on layaway collecting old furniture and accessories for it. Let's take a tour!

On the outside, commercially made brick paper covers the walls: 










Each room is framed with this carved wooden trim, which also runs along the entire top back of the house:

Inside, starting at the top left corner, the small bedroom is decorated for Christmas with a little tree and presents. A tiny box of vintage glass ornaments sits on the dresser.

My favorite room is next: the library. I've filled it with antique German furniture including plenty of bookcases and a writing desk.

On the writing desk are some of my favorite accessories: a tiny ink bottle and blotter, along with a miniscule seal, just 1 inch long, made of brass and bone (imitating ivory).

Next to the desk is a revolving bookcase complete with its original books, just 4 inches tall, made in Germany in the late 1900s.

The tall bookcase in the back of the library has another of my favorite accessories on top:  a 1 and 1/2 inch tall planter with original foliage, circa the 1920s.

On to the large bedroom at the upper right corner:

Just inside the door is this handmade fretwork cupboard: 














One of my favorite pieces of furniture is in this room: a 4 inch wide German made dressing table complete with faux-ivory accessories.

Dressing table closed.

Dressing table open. 

Heading downstairs, the dining room is on the lower right, decorated for Christmas. 

The antique buffet, made by the Star Novelty Company in the 1900s, holds a French candelabra, an English silver punchbowl, a Mexican silver decanter set, and some holiday desserts.

 

The downstairs rooms retain their original floor papers, complete with a colorfully printed "carpet":

The dining room also features colorful original curtains:

The last room on our tour is the kitchen, which I've furnished with a Hoosier cabinet and matching table, and an American cast metal ice box and stove. Christmas cakes wait on the table to be carried into the dining room.

The cabinet has doors that open and a counter that actually slides out.
















Here are closeups of the icebox, sink, and stove:

I hope you've enjoyed the tour!