Exploring childhood themes through a dolls’ house collection

The V&A Museum of Childhood, aimed at enhancing children’s creativity, explores the themes of childhood to develop an appreciation of creative design through its inspirational collections and programmes. Its exquisite dolls’ house collection is one of the largest British collections not in private hands.

The oldest house, named the Nuremberg House of 1673, is probably one of the V&A Museum’s greatest treasures. There’s also a small group of 18th century dolls’ houses, including the beautiful Tate Baby House of about 1760, and a handsome holding from the 19th century. Some magnificent creations were made by carpenters whereas others like the house given to the institution by Queen Mary in 1921 have royal connections. It’s part of the V&A family of museums, and has on view the treasured national childhood collection. The galleries are so designed that they showcase the dolls’ houses and other collections in a most accessible and user friendly way.

Dating back to the 16th century, the museum reflects the diversity of childhood experiences through its thoughtful and imaginative collection of doll’s houses and other collectibles. Among them is an extraordinary collection of not less than 8,000 dolls that range from the earliest – a wooden paddle doll (dating from 1,300BC) – to the contemporary punk doll from the Bratz Boyz 2005 range.

For those who love dolls and dolls’ houses, The V&A Museum of Childhood is a must visit. And if you wish to have an equally classy dolls’ house in your collection, you can go through to the website and pick one for yourself.