"Well, David," I said. "Santa hides my Christmas presents in thrift shops all over the city and it's my job to find them."
The next thrift shop we hit offered up a rare 1600-era barbie outfit on a cheap plastic doll. I bought it for 50¢. The outfit sells on eBay for $150.00. This was just one of the presents Santa had hidden for me that year.
Apparently, it works for birthdays too.
A few weeks ago a dollhouse showed up on Toronto Kijiji just in time for my birthday. How did the birthday fairy know I was craving an early Schoenhut dollhouse? I don't know. Maybe Santa told her.
I did a little research on Schoenhut houses and found that they made over 80 different styles in the late 20's and early 30's. The earlier ones opened on the sides, as mine does.
This is one of the smaller houses made by Schoenhut. Tootsie Toy furniture is about the right scale, so I believe it is a bit smaller than 3/4" scale - maybe 1/2" scale.
Maybe I can find replacements or reproductions. Does anyone know?
I love the locks that hold the sides closed.
This idea delights me. My mother would have cherished this dollhouse when she was a child. And I would have cherished it a generation later.
This beautiful house did not belong to my mother or to me in the past, but it could have, and it belongs to me now. I plan to keep it safe and pass it along to a new generation who will appreciate it as I do.
Hugs,
Susan
Es una preciosidad de casa e imagino que alegria te llevarias al encontrarla.
ReplyDeleteEnhorabuena por tan buena compra.
Los mueblecitos y accesorios del baño y cociña me encantan.
Ahora poco a poco rehabilitala y disfruta.
Besitos, May
Så fina hus och så fina möbler! Grattis på din födelsedag!
ReplyDeleteI love findings like this one, are you going to spruce it up or keep it as it is? I like the idea of keeping my first dolls house, right until my future daughter, or perhaps son, is old enough to look after so that she/he can re-decorate as they wish.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely house though, shame about the living room windows - I'm no help with finding replacements, but I'll keep my eyes peeled for you. :)
Lovely house, Susan! It is really charming. Schoenut houses are truly a find. For replacing the windows, I have not seen many on eBay, but you could always check there for replacement parts. Or you can get them re-fabricated (I did this for my VERO house front doors with Elisabeth Le Pla of ELF Miniatures). Other than replacing the windows, I don't think you have much to do other than enjoy it!! I hope the house was a steal, too ;)
ReplyDeleteLOve it! You are a true dollhouse magnet! Cheers CM
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad all these wonderful houses are finding a home with you! This one is lovely - how nice that it came with the original furnishings, and that the periods it was played with match your and your mother's childhoods! I love knowing that a house was loved, and seeing how the children who had it furnished it.
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by the inside partitions - looking at the downstairs one from the kitchen, it looks a little clumsily made, and fits a bit awkwardly around the architrave of the front door. I don't know anything about Schoenhut dolls houses - do you think the partitions are original? Maybe they just put less work into the inside than the exterior.
(I'm also intrigued that the furniture seems to have changed colour overnight! I guess you decided that a colour other than cream would look better against the cream-coloured walls.)
Congratulations, and happy birthday!
Thanks everyone;
ReplyDeleteI will make what repairs and renovations I can without changing the integrity of the original dollhouse. I am undecided at the moment about repairing the windows or leaving them as is.I really can't see anyway to repair them unless other windows turn up without a house.
The windows and shutters are all one piece and are pressed cardboard with the shutters shaped on a mold. They kind of remind me of egg cartons.
I love the house as is, so I am not too worried about it. I will do a cosmetic repair on the missing sidelight for the front door, but nothing that will damage the original.
Hugs,
Susan
Thanks Rebecca;
ReplyDeleteSo you noticed the furniture change colour in the blog about the family. I cheated by using some Tootsie Toy room settings I already had. They were in much condition.
I believe the inside walls are original. They are the same kind of wood as the outer walls and the paint it the same. I need to clean them up though. They are still quite dirty.
You will see the house's Tootsie Toy furniture in the nanny's attic room when I do that post. The nanny must be a bit of a tyrant despite her sweet face. She has her own bathroom up there.
Hugs,
Susan