Tootsietoy Dollhouse from 1927

Here is my 1927 Tootsietoy Cardboard Doll House. The house measures approximately 19" long x 14.5" wide x 15 1/2 tall. The Dowst Brothers Company of Chicago started to produce dollhouse furniture sets around 1920 and continued until 1937. They called the toys "Tootsie" after a family member who died tragically young at age of 16  Tootsie soon became Tootsietoy.

The sides of the house have the same artwork with a trellis, flower boxes and green shutters. Wayne Paper Goods  Co. of Ft. Wayne, Indiana actually produced the house for Tootsietoy,

The front of the house has two large doors that open so the interior of the house can be accessed easily. Mine is missing the cardboard piece for the attic windows. It fits into the roof as shown in the next picture. Mine is also missing the knobs for the doors.

The inside of the house has lithographed details, like a fireplace, curtains, accessories, light sconces, carpets and anything else to make it a comfortable home. 

The living room has a lovely brick fireplace with a roaring fire.

The house technically has 6 rooms. 

The bathroom is in an alcove behind one bedroom. The metal Tootsietoy furniture is a perfect fit. 

There is even a scale so the dolls can watch their weight.

The smaller room in front of the bathroom can be a bedroom, or a dressing room or whatever. The console radio opens up to reveal the dials and speaker.

The master bedroom with the Tootsietoy bedroom set in blue.

The kitchen is an alcove behind the dining room.

I am missing the dining room table but I have substituted the living room side table for now.

The living room furniture is gold. The phonograph lets the dolls listen to music after dinner.

Here is the furnished house

Furniture sets were sold in colourful boxes. Here are some sets that are in my collection.

I have had this house for about ten years and have finally shared it, I hope you enjoyed the visit.

Antique German Gottschalk Kitchen

Kitchens have been on my mind lately. I have been isolating at home for more than a year and during that time I have rediscovered cooking and baking. I am still working full time remotely, but with more home time I have been pulling out old recipes and discovering new ones.

 I have always been attracted to the wonderful doll kitchens that were given to little girls in past centuries so they could learn about "women's work".  In today's world "women's work" means much more than kitchens, but I feel the charm of these antique miniatures holds to this day.

This lovely example from around 1900 is done in blue and white. The metal stove has painted blue trim, and there is a variety of blue enamelware to go with it..

 

I particularly love the blue delft design wallpaper with border.

The kitchen furniture, consisting of a two piece cupboard, wall shelf, and table with four chairs, is wood painted white and trimmed in blue

Accessories include 18 pieces of blue hard to find enamelware, a wonderful cast iron hand grinder trimmed in blue, and other misc kitchen pieces, including a rather large napkin in its holder.

The rolling pin in it's fancy holder is painted with fruit and the utensils hanging below it are also decorated. I love this piece.

There are a few pieces, like the ceramic "Home Sweet Home" bucket that don't seem to be original to the kitchen, but as they came with it I will leave them be.

I hope you enjoyed your visit. Happy cooking to you all. 

I finally got what I wanted for Christmas 60 years ago

When I was a kid I poured over the Christmas Catalogue doll section and dreamed of what Santa would bring me. I am sure that most of you did the same. Here are a few pages from the early 60s that made me promise to be good forever.

So imagine what it was like to finally have a childhood dream fulfilled. Last week a big package was delivered. Join me while I open it.

You can see the dolls in the video, and the picture below shows what was in the bags of clothes.

I hope you enjoyed visiting and sharing my new toys.