Carl P. Stirn furniture

From History of Dollhouses, by McKendry http://www.mckendry.net/DOLLHOUSES/1890s.htm

This is the livingroom furniture. It was manufactured by a New York Company called Carl P. Stirn, 1983-1905.

UPDATE according to the Diane Zillner & Patty Coper book: Dollhouses and their Furnishings this set is attributed to the Star Company, same era.

German Fashion in 1810 to 1826

I have a fabulous book on 1"- 1' doll fashion.
It is called Nineteenth Century Costume designs and patterns for Mannequins and Dolls Volume 1. published by Emanjay, copyright 1988 Maria G Wheat.

It is a wonderful book and I recommend it to you.

Amelia Hacker tells her friend Petronella, she wants a new hat.


French King Louis the 16th promoted French Fashion in the late 1700s by sending life size mannequins dressed in the fashion of his court to other courts. We all recognize the wide pannieres Marie Antoinette wore.



Regency style: right









A"Fashion plate" is a picture of one dress. It was used, next to spread Fashion news.

Seamstresses would copy the pictures for their customers. They became more decorated and available to more women during the Industrial Revolution.

After Marie Antoinette, by 1800, the long grecian line of the Regency style influenced by Rosseau and Napoleon and Josephine was popular. (This is the style we all love from Jane Austen movies.)
Then by 1829 a new lower waisted style was en vogue. (Think Little Women)

This was carried to an extreme by mid century (think of Scarlett O'Hara).

We see Amelia Hacker and her friend in this new style as it began in the 1820's.

Amelia Hacker wanted a new hat.

My House

Here is my Hacker House.

Here are the stairs that came with the house.

This is a spot on the floor where I think a cupboard sat as the area is bright from being protected.

Christian Hacker Perfection

I have looked at many dollhouses in antique stores, and this dollhouse makes me swoon. It is from Sondra Krueger Antiques and is for sale. It is a Christian Hacker Dollhouse.





















I LOVE the cream and blue color scheme.



Everything about it is exquisite!

Notice the cupboard and stove are intact. It is VERY rare to find both units in good condition still in a dollhouse.

It has the provenance (history) to prove it was made by Christian Hacker and is sited in Swanjte-Koehler's book. You can see more of it at http://www.sondrakrueger.com/ and it is for sale for only $9,800.00 at the time of this posting.

Moonlight Sonata was published in 1802 and was the favorite music in the Hacker House,

These are some houses attributed to the Christian Hacker Factory

Welcome, come in...

Happy April! My second dollhouse is my Christian Hacker Dollhouse. It is a bit of a mystery.

What we know. It is old. It has an intact Christian Hacker stove unit. It was purchased in San Francisco. Some of it has been garrishly restored. It was sold with an amazing collection of Tynietoy furniture. I could afford one or the other and chose the house.

I only thought to order our friend Swantje Koehler's book last week from her, and she tells me takes 4 weeks to arrive! (I wanted it signed) So if you have it and you can shed any light on this house, help me along.

This house has a great cast of characters who are called... what else, the Hacker Family. Join me as I present it to you this month, it represents life in the early 1800's in Germany.


We join them in 1810 when the French Revolution has ended and Napoleon rules France. The Napoleonic Wars have begun in Europe as a shifting alliance of European powers needle France. Germany is a Federation of states. We approach the Hacker home through streets lit with the new gas lamps. In the Hacker house the family is prosperous and happy. Come inside with me.

Coloring eggs

Alberta from the 1920's Tudor house
called the kids to the kitchen to dye Easter eggs. The kids were excited.
This was a hurried shot.


Strombecker sink and icebox.
Nancy Forbes table, chairs and buffet, antique plaster German cakes,
vintage plastic glasses,
various baskets,
not sure what kind of rubber dolls these are probably from the 1950's. It has been suggested they are Shackman.
Alberta's apron made from paper.


Alberta sends the kids out to play.
1920's Tudor house by the Louis Rich Company with shingles added at a later point. Renwal plastic toys.

My assistant insists on bringing a Marx swingset to the scene.

My assistant insists we dye our eggs

now. Nana's tricky 2 colored egg.

My assistant prepares to drop in the eggs.

Happy Easter!

Happy Spring! CM

Disney Ariel mermaid doll on the counter. Ariel is my assistant's assistant. I am accumulating an entourage.