If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a mansion – or even a village – but haven’t quite had the liquid assets how about making it happen in miniature?
A spectacular collection of doll’s houses has arrived in time for Hansons’ July Toy Auction and they have taken our breath away. The detail, the variety of buildings and quality is mesmerising.
There is something magical about a perfectly formed miniature property and this collection has everything you’ve ever wanted in a home, church, school – or pub for that matter.
Miniature homes, furnished with domestic articles and inhabitants, date back thousands of years. The earliest known examples were found in Egyptian tombs and created nearly 5,000 years ago. Wooden models of servants, furnishings, boats, livestock and pets placed in the Pyramids were thought to be for religious purposes.
The earliest known European doll’s houses were the baby houses from the 16th century, which consisted of cabinet display cases made up of individual rooms. These were handmade with architectural details, filled with miniature items and intended for adults.
Smaller doll houses with more realistic exteriors appeared in Europe in the 18th century. These were custom-made buildings for the wealthy. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, factories began mass-producing toys, including doll’s houses. German companies noted for this included Christian Hacker, Moritz Gottschalk, Elastoli and Moritz Reichel. Important English companies include Silber & Fleming, Evans & Cartwright and Lines Brothers, which became Tri-ang.
After the Second World War, doll’s houses were mass-produced in factories. By the 1950s, the typical doll’s house sold commercially was made of painted sheet metal filled with plastic furniture.
Nevertheless, doll’s house craftmanship and quality is still with us. One property now in a prime location at Hansons is the Ale House, a fully furnished hostelry from manufacturer Robert Stubbs, estimate £1,000-£1,500.
Robert Stubbs Tudor Dolls’ Houses are renowned and sell for thousands of pounds. The firm has been building cottages, houses and mansions, shops, pubs and tearooms for nearly 40 years. They’re popular all over the world, particularly in America, Japan and Australia, and some are displayed in museums.
Another Robert Stubbs offering in the collection is a Manor House, your perfect country retreat, perhaps, estimate £1,500-£2,000. You can also buy a school £700-£1,000, church £300-£400, cottage £400-£600, tearoom £100-£200 and a four-storey Victorian house £200-£300.
This veritable village of delights, gathered over the course of 25 years, has been consigned to auction by Sue Paddison, from Hucknall, Notts. Sue, a passionate collector, has spent many years lovingly furnishing the doll’s houses with quality items.
Sue’s late husband, John, was supportive and even built a doll’s house from scratch, inspired by Robert Stubbs. Being a former Rolls-Royce worker, John’s attention to detail was second to none. Sadly, he passed away in September 2019. Consequently, Sue has decided it’s time for other enthusiasts to enjoy the collection.
The eye-catching properties sweep me back to my childhood when a trip to a miniature village was a fun holiday excursion. Aside from period properties of distinction, Sue’s school comes complete with a playground and children built by Vic Newey, a man renowned for his scenic and special effects work on television.
Free valuations by appointment
They are among several fascinating lots in our July 22 Toys, Railwayana and Gaming Auction – and entries are invited until July 9. Toy valuer David Wilson-Turner is available on Tuesdays, by appointment, from 10am-4pm at Hansons’ Etwall Auction Centre.
The Toy Auction is one of several specialist sales coming up at Hansons. So, if you’ve just had a bank holiday clear-out and are considering parting with unwanted items, pop to see us. This week is a bumper one for both general and specialist free valuation events at Hansons’ valuation marquee in Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire.
Music and film memorabilia specialist Claire Howell will be available for free valuations by appointment on Wednesday, June 2, 10am-1pm. Thinking of finally parting with that vinyl record collection, a special autograph, vintage music or film posters or an item connected to a star of stage or screen? If the answer is yes, Claire would love to see it.
From Vera Lynn to Madonna, via The Rolling Stones, this section has witnessed incredible results. For example, a Jimi Hendrix autograph sold for £5,700 and an early Oasis gig contract rocked to £4,000.
Friday June 4 will see a trio of specialists at Etwall Auction Centre from 10am-1pm. Choose from clock valuations with Michael Wetton; stamp valuations with Geoff Milsom or musical Instrument valuations with Derrick Hale. Everything from George Formby banjoleles to violins and guitars have gone under the hammer at Hansons.
A major Clock Auction is ticking towards us on June 28 and entries are invited until June 11 – a perfect opportunity to part with a timepiece. Derby is renowned a for manufacturing fine clocks so I’m sure some fine examples are tucked away. In a recent Fine Art sale a Whitehurst of Derby mahogany cased bracket clock sold for £2,600.
To book, a general or special valuation at Hansons, Heage Lane, Etwall, please email [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
General valuations: Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm, Wednesday, 5-7.30pm and Saturdays, 9am-noon.
