When we think of a dollhouse, we generally associate it with a toy for children. But dollhouses were traditionally built as works of art and served various purposes that had little to do with innocent playtime.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, especially in Europe, wealthy households constructed luxurious dollhouses of valuable materials, including gold, silver and ivory. Affluent women displayed them as cabinets of curiosity to delight and amuse visitors—and to show off their extravagant tastes. Though they were generally not allowed to play with them, these opulent display cabinets also served as educational tools to teach young girls the domestic skills needed to run their households as adults.
It wasn't until the mid-19th century, when dollhouse furnishings could be mass-produced inexpensively that children took over these houses and moved their dolls in, with Barbie's Dreamhouse eventually setting the contemporary standard for these tiny homes.
Dollhouses can serve as historical records of decorations and furnishings throughout time, and the impressive feat of engineering needed to replicate homes and furniture at a
