My Bliss dollhouse.....

Yesterday

I introduced you to that

lovely Victorian Dollhouse made by R.Bliss

Today I would like to share

my own little house with you...

 Research has been difficult.

I have only seen two or three others like mine.

One is the Clarke Museum in Eureka ,CA.

part of the Elizabeth Anderson Collection.

Rufus Bliss was the founder of the 

R.Bliss manufacturing Co.,

in Pawtucket, R.I.

from 1832-1914.

The company was purchased after his death 

and continued to manufacture toys until the 1930's.

The company was a pioneer in the manufacturing of

lithographed paper wooden toys.

The earliest ads for the company appeared in the N.E. business

directory in 1871...

If you simply web search Bliss Dollhouses

you will pull up all sorts of images .

The thing I think that makes mine special

is how well it was taken care of.

There is the small torn piece of paper on the gable

but other than that 
it has minor wear compared to the other houses I have seen.

The one that sold on E-Bay yesterday was full of water damage

stains and torn paper and cracklure everywhere.

Lets take a small tour of the 

Flower House

 The front door opens under the tiny plaque

with the manufacturers name on it...

Notice some of the details are printed and then there are also two

decorative spindles hanging from the porch.

 Look at all the lovely little details on the trims,brickwork , and even curtains.

Here is the inside...

A real piece of lace for the downstairs open window,

 and tiny hinges for the door ...

Some nice close ups of the beautiful papers inside...

When I purchased this a few years ago

I just knew there was something special about it.

I had one doll house when I was a child...

 This was me

Christmas Morning I believe in 1982?

I still have the furniture

 but  the house is gone.

I'm not necessarily a dollhouse collector,

I just buy something if I like it!

In the past few years I have grown to love the metal Marx Style dollhouses

and farms after I purchased a small dairy barn for my son

at a flea market.

I have been waiting for the right dollhouse for myself  to come along.

Funny thing is...

a few months ago my mother in law let me look

through some of my husbands childhood photos

and there he is with his little Marx Farm! 

(he still makes that deer in the headlights face when you take his picture sometimes ;)

I have really enjoyed having my little Bliss Dollhouse on display

but as I mentioned I will be putting her up for auction.

Time to let someone else enjoy her.

I know several of you collect dollhouses...

Do you have any particular ones or brands you really love?

I'd really enjoy hearing about it!

If you know anyone looking for a Bliss ..

tell them to keep their eye out for mine on E-bay!

Happy Friday everyone!