Name/Title

Miniature chair

About this object

The dollhouse (XHH.2774.1) includes this miniature chair along with a variety of other accessories and furniture. Blanche Gorrie (nee Buckland) gave this dollhouse to her granddaughter, Lesley Buckland Gorrie, as a birthday present.

For centuries, dollhouses and their accessories have been popular children’s toys. Young girls were encouraged to play with dollhouses as they were thought to be efficient learning aids in teaching them how to run a household. (1)

Before the wide availability of mass produced children’s toys in the mid-twentieth century, dollhouses and furniture accessories were mostly handmade, and some showed immense craftsmanship and skill. (2) This dollhouse and some of its accessories were made by returned servicemen who had served in the First World War. It is likely that the dollhouse furniture is combination of handmade pieces produced by these ex-servicemen as well as other items collected by Lesley over a period of time.

This miniature chair is made from lacquered wood. The chair has a tall backrest which has a carved detail inset.

(1) Museum of Childhood, ‘Dolls’ houses and miniatures,’ URL: http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/collections/dolls-houses-and-miniatures
(2) Peter Clayworth, ‘Children’s play – Toys – from homemade to mass market,’ Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, URL: www.teara.govt.nz/en/childrens-play/page-6

For more information about the Buckland family and Highwic, which is cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, visit our website.

Medium and Materials

Wood

Measurements

12.1 x 6 x 5.6cm

Subject and Association Keywords

Girlhood

Credit Line

Collection of Highwic, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

Object Type

Toy

Object number

XHH.2774.38

Rights

All rights reserved

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