1871 Bliss Building Blocks

The name "Bliss," when speaking of antique toys, usually brings to mind their famed lithographed paper dollhouses. But the American company made other toys as well, including this set of small wooden blocks, still in their original 7 1/2 tall box with its paper label intact. I spotted these on a birthday antiquing trip last weekend, and was thrilled to find them.They were only $20, which seemed like a steal for such a lovely, and old, toy.

The label dates the set to 1871, and the text features one of the earliest toy safety endorsements I've ever read:

"No. 248.

Improved Architectural Building

BLOCKS

Free from PAINT or other POISONOUS colorings.

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1871,

by R. Bliss Manf'G. Co., in the Office of the Commissioner 

of Patents at Washington."

Silver Dollhouse Decanter Set

I'm always looking for interesting little things to add to my dollhouses, and I found this on my birthday antiquing trip over the weekend: a silver decanter set. It has a Mexican silver hallmark on the underside of the tray, and appears to have some age to it, although I couldn't say exactly how old it may be. The tray measures a little over 4 inches wide, and the mugs are just 1/2 an inch tall. The keg-shaped decanter has a turquoise stopper, and rests on a stand.

My seven inch German doll is just the right size to serve as a barmaid. I expect the teddy bears will be arriving soon, ready to throw a few pints back...

Antique Bisque Doll Head

My sister is a minimalist, and doesn't share my appreciation for antiques, which she disdainfully refers to as "a bunch of old junk." For my recent birthday, I took myself on an antiquing shopping spree, and my sister later asked me what I found. "Ooooh: an absolutely fantastic broken old doll head," I replied, beaming over the beautifully sculpted and painted bisque head, circa the 1880s. My sister looked at me scornfully, and said, "You bought a broken doll head?" Yes. I did. But just look at her: she's beautiful! And technically speaking, it's only her shoulderplate that's broken...

Antique Dollhouse Grocery Store

If you've followed my blog for awhile, you'll know that I love antique dollhouse grocery shops. I found a fabulous one last week, just in time for my birthday, which gave me an excuse to splurge on it. Made in Denmark in the 1920s, it has a glass display window, removeable counter, all of its drawers with their original pulls, and lots of accessories, most of which are original to the shop. The store measures 16 inches wide by 7 inches tall, and the largest product bottle is 2 inches high.

My 5 inch Steiff bear makes a perfect shopkeeper:

Here are some closeups of the products:

 

 

The outside of the shop features colorful signs 

advertising wine and tobacco. 

I'm not sure what "Kobmand" means: any Danish speakers out there?

Schoenhut Dollhouse

One of my birthday gifts this year was a 1930s Schoenhut dollhouse, made of wood and fibreboard with teeny tiny green shutters and printed "wooden" floor coverings. It's a very petite little house, only 10 1/2 inches tall. The roof is a bit crumbly and saggy, but it's still there, along with the often-missing original door.

I've fitted it out with 1/2 inch scale 1920s - 1930s Tootsie Toy furniture and the tiniest dollhouse food I've ever seen, made in England by Dol-Toi. Each plate is just 1/2 an inch wide, and the food, obviously, is even smaller.

Inhabiting the house are a 1920s German dollhouse couple, only 3 1/2 inches tall. They look ready for an evening on the town (or my birthday party).

I think the Mrs. doll was actually meant to be a maid, and that's a maid's cap on her head. But she arrived sans clothes, so I can't be sure. I'm pretending she's wearing a chic 1920s head wrap, instead. Either that, or we pretend she was the maid, but she ran off with the man of the house, seen below, and this is their secret rendevous country cottage.