So excited to share Swoboda Deaf Center is hosting their annual Winter Deaf Festival this month of December and I’m lending our Christmas miniature house where everyone can see it up close.
According to Swoboda Deaf Center (SDC) website:
SDC is the only Deaf owned community center in the Chicagoland area for the Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, DeafBlind, CODA (Children of Deaf Adults), and ASL signers to come together. Swoboda Deaf Center’s mission is to provide resources, educational workshops, social gatherings, and special events including cultural awareness.
As I live here in Chicagoland for over twenty years, Marshall Field’s Department store on State Street with the iconic clock is one of the Chicago’s highlights. This particular heirloom dollhouse, 1970’s Colonial Mansion by Hall’s Lifetime Toys is believed was created for Marshall Field’s & Co. This one is still sought after by collectors today.
This 1970’s Colonial Mansion may be considered as “plantation style” but it did not have any other trim, like a balcony. It has a Greek revival with the columns and triangular shape on the top front. The painted green roof is plain, sloping on each side. 4 rooms total with a staircase, covered in red suede. A fireplace. 2 rooms upstairs and 2 rooms downstairs, all beautifully wall papered. Each window is plastic stapled with painted white curtains and green wooden shutters.
I love the lithographed front door design as it stands out elegantly. Happy viewing!
Top Floor – two roomsBottom floor – two roomsI scanned in this Hall’s Lifetime Toys label image from the reference book – along with the other images below Dollhouse and Furniture Advertising: 1880s-1980s by Dian Zillner(from Dian Zillner’s book)(from Dian Zillner’s book)(from Dian Zillner’s book)(from Dian Zillner’s book)Marshall Field’s & Co (now Macy’s) Department store on State & Washington Street – with its iconic clockTiffany Favrile glass ceiling
The iconic Walnut Room at Marshall Field’s (now Macy’s) on 111 N. State St. below
More information about World’s Finest Dollhouse Miniatures Show here.
Once I stepped in at Chicago International Miniature Show here in Chicago, I felt welcomed by ALL! I came across the booth of National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts – as known as N.A.M.E They are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year!
Check out National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts’ booth
Winter Wonderland N.A.M.E National 2022 in Indianapolis from Sept 1st through Sept 4th, 2022After checking out National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts booth, I met this renowned N.A.M.E miniaturist, Shannon Moore. Her amazing work can be seen here.Miniaturist Shannon MooreMiniature artist Shannon Moore’s art is also at N.A.M.E. display booth! What a honor!
Found a 2-Story (Spanish Style) House in such an excellent condition without any rust. The front door and all of the windows remain intact.
Bright colored illustrations. • 1st floor has kitchen, dining room & living room • 2nd floor has master bedroom, bathroom, nursery & a patio • 28″ L x 12″ W x 16 1/2″ H
Beautifully illustrated patterns throughout the house, especially the floorings.Patio with mid-century modern flooringThe illustration is just stunning.Kitchen and a nicely integrated foyer by the front doorLove the colors!Living roomBathroom and a circus-themed nursery room on the 2nd floorHow nostalgic!BathroomThis old advertisement image is from my favorite reference book Dollhouse and Furniture Advertising: 1880s – 1980sby Dian Zillner
I found this beautiful antique dollhouse in an older town of Evanston, IL.
Dimensions: 30″ H x 36.5″ W x 18″ D.
I asked Ann Meehan the dollhouse expert via email about this one. She replied that Dian Zillner wrote a number of books dealing with commercial and homemade houses. After finding a section in the books, Meehan dated it in the 1930’s – 1940’s as they were hard to work with open back houses – if you push them against the wall.
As much I wanted to give it a deep cleaning or give it a fresh coat of paint, it will only diminish the value and its true history.
I often wondered who the original owner was – and whatever happened to him/her. Because of the beautiful green & gold Art Deco floorings, was she from Europe? Ireland maybe?
Please feel free to comment – even I no longer have this house.
RoofBeautiful stencil patternsFloorRight sideLeft sideFirst floorSecond floor. Notice the wallpaper?Love the hand-painted ceiling!So unique!
The original wooden door and metal windows all remain intact. The color print on the fiberboard is still bright and vivid. InteriorA wooden swivel base on the bottom!Love the staircase!Built-in fireplace. Beautifully illustrated wall above the mantel.A built-in closet with a hanging rod on the second floor. Missing a panel as shown.What a timeless treasure.
I bought this beautiful antique wooden lithograph dollhouse for only $50 via Facebook Marketplace in 2018. After my visit at the local library, it was an authentic R. Bliss – Colonial Mansion circa 1910. Unfortunately, the owner who sold it to me didn’t know the true value as it was left in their barn for years.
Because of extremely delicate illustrated paper lithograph (glued on wood), I had to gently clean every nooks and crannies by using dry soft toothbrush and Q-Tips. No water!
I contacted the dollhouse expert Ann Meehan and she thought it was a great find! She said if I put this on display at a miniature/toy show or eBay — it could bring about $500+. She suggested me to put it on eBay instead of an auction house (like Dan Morphy’s auction) because they (the auction house) would sell it at any price it brings and I’d have no control. Good tip!
The director of The Great American Dollhouse Museum in Danville, KY (https://www.thedollhousemuseum.com) has shown interest in having the dollhouse take part of their collection. But they would ask us to donate it.
So I ended up selling it for $550 on eBay – to a R. Bliss collector.
It is very rare to see a 1949 Walt Disney Marx Tin Lithograph dollhouse in such an excellent condition with bright and beautiful mid-century illustrations. It has shown age but NO rust. Very clean too.
The size is 25” L; 9.5″ W and 14” H. The house had a very minor denting to the roof with some scratches here & there. A rare find! (thanks to my friend Sarah Krause!) …And it got sold fast.
HOUSE MINIATURES 