Thursday, February 11, 2010

Living in your Collection


I used to keep one dollhouse out and the rest in the attic.

Then the houses became more complex.

Then more expensive.
Top: Bliss dollhouse on a tall thin chest.

Bottom:This is the Christian Hacker staircase I am not using in the house right now. I think it stands on it's
own merits as a sculpture.



Then the houses took over. After looking at how others keep theirs I decided I could not dedicate a whole room to them, but had to disperse them throughout my whole house. These are pictures of my livingroom

I have 6 in here now. 2 Triangs on a glass cabinet filled with other bits and pieces.






My new puppenstube, the MH1and the Eagle hexagonal house reside here.


They are very popular with people, although I had one guest walk in and tell me the MH1 was his favorite and as far as he could see "The Christian Hacker was kindling"....


"You just think it's too wedding cake like, " I told him. "That's because it was made for the FRENCH MARKET in the late 1800's".


Sometimes it's hard not to become a docent and offer an historical tour. I also feel like a mother pushing forward her ungainly child who is not as appreciated as her smarter sibling if people ignore a certain house. If anyone even gives me a look I bring up the collection of a friend of mine in New Mexico. He collects tricycles. Vintage tricycles.


I have to admit one of the reasons I like displaying the Imagination dollhouse by Marx is because so many people start to play with it. It is so colorful and easily accessible to people I guess.


I keep the oldest antiques up in my room.


I'm not sure what I think of this yet, but they are so cheerful and I think I am passing them off as art, which of course they are. The other benefit is avoiding hoarding. They aren't hidden in the attic and it is clear to me each house only needs so much. One of my goals is to pass on duplicates I collect when I buy lots and items I'm through with.
More about that later. C






9 comments:

Rebecca said...

Lovely to see your houses around your house! I don't have an attic or a cellar, and not many rooms - so my houses are all around my house, too. However, I don't want to share pictures of my mess with you all - would have to do a fair bit of cleaning and clearing up before I'd be game to do that! And, sadly, I have to keep my dolls houses covered, as otherwise they get too dusty - living with louvre windows means the dust has free entry (and fine ash in the dry season, when the rural properties burn off). But it's great to see yours in their places, and all the pieces in the cabinet - and the staircase, leading to who knows where?
As for kindling, he might not think so if he knew the price!

My Realitty said...

I have to solve the dust issue too. My fantasy is to have linnen covers made with their names embroidered on them. That's off in fantasyland though.I think I will use sheets and plastic for now. When they get dusty I call it "antiquing". CM

Dana R. Farcas said...

Lovely house and wonderfull collection! I want to see more!
I like more to clean the doll house then my own house, but I have only one house and two shelfs with miniatures. I do not know what I would do if I had so many. For now I only dream about this.

Josje said...

If the dust problem really is a problem, you could consider glass or acrylic cases to protect them, like in the museum.
I do like the way you have displayed your collection, like pieces of art. Love the staircase by the lamp, a little architectural gem.

Amy's Miniatures And Smalls said...

I am inspired. I used to keep only one house in the living room because I only had one. I now have five doll houses in my living room. Yeah! What you have done is beautiful and it is art. It's all about what we like and I would like to come over to your house and just sit and look for a while and then I would play and play. So nice of you to share. I use plastic to cover them. You are awesome. Thanks!

Pubdoll said...

Thank you for sharing C! I love the way you have displayed your houses, especially the MH1. You have a great collection! Having a Marx Imagination dollhouse has been a dream of mine, but I prefer houses I feel I can put my stamp on, without feeling like a vandal :-)

Norma Bennett said...

If you've got the room I say go for it and 'live amongst them' - agree the dust can be a bit of problem but I'd rather enjoy them covered in dust than have them shut away in pristine condition. Life is for living, collections (unless they are for invetment purposes) are for enjoying.

That stair case is wonderful!

My Realitty said...

Great ideas! If any one has pictures of how they protect their dollhouses will you send them to me or put them on your blogs and tell us so I can see. Thanks C

My Realitty said...

I completely agree with you Norma. I need to point out that I live alone, no husband or childern to influence what I do with my space. c