Antique dollhouse miniatures for sale

Very Rare Antique French Miniature School Room with Dolls - Back to School !

This school room is presented in its original wooden box. Folding walls with gilt paper border and green paper fit perfectly into the wooden box. This French schoolroom comprises the teacher's podium and desk, two quadruple pupils desks and benches. This furniture of varnished honey tones is enhanced with black lines, green faux leather seats on benches. For the lessons you have two blackboards, a map, a music lesson, a reading learning board. On pupils desks you will find notebooks, pencils. On teacher's desk, there is a book of Perrault, a folder and some notebooks.

The box is 17 3/4"(45 cm) long x 11 1/4"(28.5 cm) large. The decor is 15 3/8"(39 cm) large, 9 5/8"(24.5 cm) deep without the flap, 12 5/8"(32 cm) total deep and 8 1/4"(21 cm) high. Pupiles benches are 3 1/8"(8 cm) high.

The map on the wall gives information for dating this class room. Two cities, La Roche-sur-Yon and Pontivy, have their ancient names, Napoléon-vendée and Napoléonville. Both cities were created by Emperor Napoléon 1st. These names were used between 1852 and 1870, during the reign of Emperor Napoléon III, the nephew of Napoléon 1st. In 1870, France becames a Republic and all references to Napoléon and Empire were removed.

All original. Excellent condition. France - 1870-1875. Attributed to Adelaïde Privé.

The school is for sale with the 7 dolls. The dolls presented on the pictures are from 3 1/8"(8 cm) to 3 7/8"(10 cm) tall. The teacher is 5 1/8"(13 cm) tall. They are porcelain shoulder head or bisque head with blonde sculpted hair, painted facial figures, muslin body with bisque lower limbs. They are all in excellent condition and lovely dressed with antique costumes.

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Adelaïde Guérin was born in 1827. She married Louis Privé in 1852, thus becoming Adelaïde Privé. She worked in the family business run by her uncle Louis Badeuille. In 1871, she succeeded Louis Badeuille at the head of the company, and appeared in trade almanacs as Veuve Privé, her husband having died in 1870.

In the 1873 almanac her activity is described as follows: Special manufacture of apartments in children’s toys, bedrooms, lounges, dining rooms, guest houses.

And in 1877 : Furniture for children in rosewood and mahogany

In 1878 she married François-Victor Bolant, a distant cousin, but continued to appear in trade almanacs under the name Veuve Privé until 1885. In 1886 Bolant took over the family business. Adelaide died 10 years later in 1896.

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Extremely Rare Wooden and Cardboard Salon - France - Circa 1825

A rare cardboard and paper folding French bedroom, the three walls with original light blue wallpaper above the dado, pink, green and black marbleized paper below, wooden frames enhanced with Dresden paper and varnished engravings, streaked beige floor with folding extension.

The wooden and cardboard furniture are painted to simulate mahogany, decorated with embossed gilt paper, the tops painted to simulate marble, the lit en bateau with original white cotton bedding and white muslin hangings. They are characteristic of the furniture produced in France between 1815 and 1830, the period of the restoration of the monarchy after the defeat of Napoleon I and the end of the Empire.

Room 16 1/2"(42 cm) wide, 10 "(25.3 cm) high and 15 1/4"(38.7 cm) deep. Chairs are 3 3/8"(8.7 cm) high. Bed is 4 7/8"(12.3 cm) long.

The lamp is very interesting. This lamp model, known as Astral Lamp, was created by Bordier-Marcet in 1809-1810 (source : Les Merveilles de la science/L’art de l’Éclairage - by Louis Figuier - 1870). See pictures. The astral lamps were gradually supplemented by the Sinombre lamps from 1820.

Given some similarities with rooms attributed to Louis Badeuille (general room design, marbled base of the walls, flower pots, black paper simulating marble top of furnishings) this room may be attributed to Joseph Riolet (see more information below).

France - Circa 1825-1830.

Very good to excellent condition. Wear on the floor. Furnishings very well protected in the box. The box itself is in very good condition.

Value point : extremely rare original room from this period - Museum piece.

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Joseph Riolet was born in 1787, two years before the French Revolution. In 1823 he founded his business in Paris, at 2 rue Molay. In 1828, his activity was described in the Répertoire du Commerce de Paris, a professional directory:

Manufacturer of small children’s furniture, such as armchairs and sofas covered in canvas and satins, of all sizes, with or without ornaments.

His business was quite small, as he shared 2 rue Molay with other entrepreneurs. Joseph Riolet married Claude Paturot, with whom he had several children. His sons all worked in the woodworking trades. They appear in business directories as tabletiers.

The tabletier uses ivory and all rare species of wood that come from foreign countries such as boxwood, ebony, walnut, cherry, olive. He makes games of chess, tric-trac, checkers, and an infinity of small wooden works. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, especially under the First Empire, tabletiers knew a golden age thanks to the vogue of travel necessaires, boxes where meticulously fit a large number of objects from the production of tabletiers (source: Wikipedia). One of Joseph Riolet’s sons filed a patent for a machine to cut precious wood into thin plates.

Joseph Riolet also had a daughter Anne-Apoline, born in 1807, who married in 1830, Denis Badeuille from Aire-sur-la-Lys, in Northern France. On her death certificate, in 1888, Anne-Apoline appeared as a toy worker; she therefore worked all her life in the family business.

In 1840, Joseph Riolet appeared in directories at a new address, 13 rue Notre-Dame de Nazareth, still in Paris. From 1845, the activity was shared with his genus Denis Badeuille, who appeared alone in professional directories from 1848.

Joseph Riolet died in 1858.

Outstanding French Room with very rare Decor - Attributed to Louis Badeuille

This five-sided room with folding sides has original wall-paper, three multi-paned windows, extravagant wall mirrors with gilt paper frame, original lace curtains with gilt paper valences, two paintings with gilt paper frame, and is richly furnished : a fireplace with elaborate gilt ormolu mantel clock, a rare sofa, and four armchairs; the upholstered seats have original faux-quilted fabric covers and gilt ormolu paper trim.

Circa 1860, French decors usually have no glass window. A very limited number of decors have two windows; this is the unique example identified with three windows, and all glasses are original !

The decor is 8 3/4"(22.3 cm) high. Its total length is 26 5/8"(67.5 cm). The room in presentation is 15 3/4"(40 cm) wide and 9 1/2"(24 cm) deep. The table is 5 5/8"(14.4 cm) long and 2 3/4"(7 cm) high. The sofa is 4 1/2"(11.3 cm) wide. All seats are 4 5/8"(11.8 cm) high.

Excellent condition for the decor and the furnishings. Repairs to arms of the seats. Piano feet are re-glued. Good condition for the upholstery, the silk is slightly worn by the passing of time.

Museum piece. France - Circa 1860 - Attributed to Louis Badeuille.

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Denis Badeuille was born in 1807 in Aire-sur-la-Lys, a town in Northern France. In 1830, he married in Paris Anne Riolet, the daughter of Joseph Riolet, manufacturer of small children’s furniture.

In 1848 he took over his father-in-law’s business at 13 rue Notre-Dame de Nazareth. In 1852, the business directory describes his activity:

Manufacturer of furniture in children’s toys, cutlery in satin, velvet, canvas, Persian; Gothic chairs, wheelbarrows, bonbonnières; apartment complete since 75c and above, room with entouirages, large beds for dolls, carriages of any size.

In 1853 the company moved to 26 of the same street, then in 1856 it went to 16 rue Grenier-saint-Lazare. She also rents the 6th floor, which was probably used as housing for Denis Badeuille but also many cousins and nephews, originally from Aire-sur-la-Lys and went to Paris to work in the family business.

In 1870, Denis Badeuille passed the business on to his niece, Adélaïde Guérin.

Luxury French Folding Room with Original Furnishings and Accessories

This marvelous five-paneled folding cardboard room has original wall-paper, paper border and groundfloor. The storage box serves as a structural frame. The cover of the box is missing but has no impact on the display. On the walls five early colored engravings and a very ornate mirror with pressed gilt paper frame are hanging. The room has its original furnishings in natural wood trimmed with elaborated and rich decoupages.

This salon comprises : five armchairs and a canopy bed covered with beautifully preserved pink silk upholstery. The capony bed is surrounded with its gold crown from where a delicate lace is going down. The set comprises also its square pedestal table richly decorated, its majestic armoire with original mirrored opening door, its fire place with engraving. Original ormolu mantel clock and two potted plants.

Room box with decor 9 7/8"(25 cm) high, 14 1/8"(36 cm) wide - Chair 4 1/2"(11.5 cm) high - Canopy-bed 9 1/2"(24 cm) high - Mirrored Armoire 8 1/4"(21 cm) high, 4 3/8"(11 cm) wide.

This luxury French salon is perfect to emphasize your French mignonettes !

Excellent condition - The lace of the canopy bed seems to be replaced.

France - Attributed to Louis Badeuille - Circa 1860.

Antique French Miniature Room with Original Furnishings

The light-wood box with paper covers unfolds to show a very nice French salon. The furniture is in light wood with pink silk upholstery and gilt paper. In the corners are lace curtains to simulate windows. The floor and wall papers are original. Furnishing includes a piano and its stool, a table, two chairs, two armchairs, a sofa and a chimney with its original mirror and its metal jardiniere. Two Ladies portraits and original candleholders are hanging on the wall.

Box 16 1/2"(42 cm) long, 8 5/8"(22 cm) high, 8 5/8"(22 cm) wide. Table is 2 1/2"(6.2 cm) high. Chairs are 3 1/4"(8.2 cm) high.

Very good to excellent condition, light fading on floor, due to old age some minor wears on silk upholstery, one chair leg is re-glued.

Such rooms were presented from 1901 to 1908 in The Printemps department store catalogs. Manufactured by Villard & Weill, the manufacturer of Deauville dollhouses.

France - Circa 1905.

The all-bisque doll 4 1/2"(11.5 cm) tall on the picture is not for sale. This room matches perfectly with 4 3/8"(11 cm) to 5 3/8"(13.5 cm) mignonettes.

Antique French Room for Mignonettes - by Villard & Weill

This wooden box with red paper covers unfolds to show a very nice French salon to present your dolls in their original context.

Arranged in the room you will have the original furniture ensemble, two decorated windows on back with original lace and silk curtains and gilt paper.

The lithographed floor and wall papers are original. Four Ladies portraits are on the wall.

The furniture comprises a chimney with its original mirror, a table, two chairs, two armchairs, a piano and its stool, a sofa and a jardiniere with fabric flowers. The chimney is decorated with two metal French vases and a metal chandelier.

The fabrics is very colorful and very well preserved.

Note some repairs to furnishings, mainly seats and table. Papers have traces of age.

The room box is 16 3/8"(41.5 cm) wide, 8 7/8"(22.5 cm) deep (13 "(33 cm) opened) and 8 1/4"(21.1 cm) high.

Such rooms were presented from 1901 to 1908 in The Printemps department store catalogs. The same floor paper and lace curtains are present in Deauville dollhouses manufactured by Villard & Weill.

France - Circa 1905.

The Largest Deauville Dollhouse with Elevator and Electricity - By Villard & Weill

This dollhouse is the largest model of Deauville dollhouses. This wooden framed flat-fronted dollhouse has two floors, a V-shaped blue roof with half-timbered lithographed-paper galbe dormer surmounted by a turret with lithographed-paper window, pressed cornice and gilded steeple. This dollhouse rests on a wooden marbleized base with three white painted wooden steps.

Exterior of this dollhouse is elaborated decorated with lithographed-paper to simulate stonework construction. The sides are decorated with four curtained windows. On the front, a wooden porch, two balconies with gilded cardboard balustrades, wooden carved columns, gilt ball finials, three glass windows and of course the front door with original silver door knob. Original wonderful striped window awnings upstairs that can be open and close. On the base, you can see the original brass knob for the pulley system of the elevator.

The entire front hinges open to reveal four rooms, each with its original wall and floor papers, lace curtains and a crank-operated elevator with its opening door. There are two interior working doors. The house has original electricity system by using two contactors, one for the first floor with a gilt ormulu ceiling lamp, the other for the second floor for a gilt ormulu wall fixture. Original wooden furnishings with paper covered and floral decoupage.

34 5/8"(88 cm) high - 19 5/8"(50 cm) wide - 10 5/8"(27 cm) deep without the front steps. Front door height 7 1/2"(19 cm) x width 3 "(7.7 cm).

Excellent condition for the dollhouse, good condition for the furnishings.

Store Label AU BON MARCHE Paris department store.

Luxury model of this dollhouse with all equipement and full of charm !

France - Villard & Weill - 1913. This dollhouse is on the cover of the book Villard & Weill - Antique Deauville Dollhouse published by Belle Epoque Dolls.

Antique Fully-Furnished German Miniature Dollhouse with Elevator - by Moritz Gottschalk

This two-story dollhouse has lithographed paper to simulate red brick and yellow stone with lithographed window on roof. Red painted roof with two chimneys. Very nice porch roof with arrangement of flowers at balustrade, access to the house by rare double exterior stairs, original wooden door and knob. Five glass windows with original curtains at front.

The entire front opens to reveal two rooms and two halls, each with original wallpaper and tile or parquet floor paper. The wooden elevator with its opening door operates in a pulley system from a brass lever at the side. Two interior hinged doors.

The original Gottschalk furniture of wooden and pressed cardboard comprises a bed, a dressing table and its chair, a sofa, a table and its chair with light green silk upholstery as well as a small high table.

Handwritten number ( #4415 ? ) under the base.

Very good condition.

German - By Moritz Gottschalk in 1909.

Deauville Fully-Furnished Dollhouse proposed by Au Bon Marché - by Villard & Weill

This very nice French Sea Side Villa with cream and water green lithographed paper to simulate brickwork opens to both sides. This wooden-framed two-story dollhouse has four rooms with light system. The balcony and the porch have a shaped balustrade. Windows are enhanced with very decorative flower boxes. Original chimney and stairs. Glass windows.

21 7/8"(55.5 cm) high including chimney, 15 3/4"(40 cm) wide and 11 1/4"(28.5 cm) deep including stairs. Front door height 5 1/8"(13 cm) x width 3 1/8"(8 cm). First level balcony door height 4 1/2"(11.5 cm) x width 3 "(7.5 cm).

Original furnishings in painted wood with floral decoupage and decorative gilt border are included. It comprises a day-bed with canopy, two chairs and two armchairs with silk upholstery, an oval table, a cupboard with glass mirror, a piano and a jardiniere.

Good to very good condition. Handles are not original. Window flower boxes and electrical system were added, probably mid 19th.

This house was presented in Au Bon Marché New Year Gifts catalog in 1907.

France, by Villard & Weill.

The dolls presented on pictures are not part of this set, they are for sale separately.

Early French OPERA with Decors - Shop Label

This French OPERA is made of wooden and cardboard. The front is completely covered with painted paper simulating wood, marble, gilt designs. It is an early model. Later models are mainly of painted wood and paper-mache.

This miniature theater is proposed with three decors: a manorial salon, a farm landscape, and an oriental garden.

Theater 24 3/8"(62 cm) wide, 24 3/8"(62 cm) high, 9 1/2"(24 cm) deep.

Excellent condition. All original except silk curtains (old replacement).

Thespians are 4 1/2"(11.5 cm) tall, they are in excellent condition with original costume.

France - Circa 1880.

With the shop label Jules DECRE - Nantes. Jules DECRE has founded a Department Store in the French city of Nantes in 1867.

Antique Boxed Diorama - Farms and Pastures

A rare French diorama Fermes et Paturages with label of the famous Parisian Department Store Au Bon Marche. This wooden box opens to reveal a charming country scene, with cardboard houses and farms, lead trees and lovely painted wooden animals.

The Carl Horn dolls are the perfect size to liven up this decor.

Box 13 3/8"(34 cm) x 7 1/8"(18 cm) x 4 1/4"(10.8 cm) - Open box is 11 1/4"(28.5 cm) deep.

France - Circa 1900 - with store label.

The Carl Horn dolls presented are not part of this set, they are for sale separately.