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When I was a child, my mother gave me lovely doll furniture for my January birthday. Made by a German company Spielwaren Puppen Mobel, the elegant gift is one that I still treasure today.
Purchased at the former Stone & Thomas Department Store (likely at the post-Christmas sale), the wooden furniture was created in the style of French Louis XV, with all the twists and turns of Rococo work. The 1960 masterpieces feature working drawers, pink velvet upholstery, lots of roses and gold trim.
It includes a bedroom set (with bedding!), sitting room, music room, standing candelabras and a German-style heat stove.
It was an elaborate gift for a youngster and it certainly taught me how to be careful and deliberate in my display of the treasures.
Even today, I'll unpack these sweet miniatures and set them up carefully on my bedroom mantle for enjoyment. My daughters and granddaughters appreciate them and even my son and grandsons are amazed at the beauty.
Recently I've seen pieces of this furniture bring in hundreds of dollars on eBay, but I'll never sell mine. These tiny treasures represent so much.
For example, the careful work of the German toy manufacturers of days gone by. This was a time when craftsmen and women took pride in their work and the focus was on quality not quantity.
That is one of the reasons that antiques in general are so appreciated, older items are often better made and elegantly designed. Like this toy collection, antiques stand the test of time.
I have 13 pieces of the valuable furniture and if I continue to take good care of it, I can only expect it to remain a treasure. Keeping it dry and safe from extreme heat, cold or humidity is the most important thing.
Dollhouse furniture is often described by scale, for example one inch to one foot. Most of the 20th century examples were made three quarter scale (where 1 foot is represented by 3/4 of an inch), though this furniture is bigger. It would be appropriate for a small doll of 6 or 7 inches tall.
I really think this furniture was made for adult collectors as much as children, since it's fragile and not meant to be treated casually.
Collectors enjoy vintage toys just as much as children enjoy playthings and this furniture today shows up on auction sites geared to adults.
But many children enjoy collecting things and childhood is the right time to give a youngster the responsibility of taking care of something, whether it is the child's bedroom, toy collection or even a little brother or sister.
So don't hesitate to give a child a lovely plaything, as long as you're willing to teach them how to handle the item, the lesson will remain with them for a long time.