Whenever I visit the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, (near where I live), I make sure my route takes me through the gallery featuring the "Doll's House of Petronella Oortman" c. 1686-1705.
The owner paid 20,000 to 30,000 guilders (2 guilders equals approximately 1 Euro) for it at the time - enough to have bought a real house on an Amsterdam canal.
Petronella Oortman was married to Johannes Brandt, a silk merchant, and they lived in Amsterdam.
This expensive doll house was not for children to play with - it was the hobby of the lady of the house, and she would give a tour of it when women guests visited.
The dimensions are 10.2 feet tall, 7.58 feet wide, and 3.1 feet deep.
This painting by Jacob Appel shows how the doll house looked originally.
Antique Dutch Doll Houses
1. Antique Dutch Doll House of Petronella Oortman
2. Painting of Petronella Oortman Doll House by Jacob Appel
3. Antique Dutch Doll House of Petronella Dunois
4. Antique Dutch Doll House of Petronella Dunois - Close Up Views
5. Antique Dutch Doll House of Petronella Dunois - Attic Laundry Room
6. Antique Dutch Doll House of Petronella Dunois - Kitchen View
Resource information - Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Charity Note:
I'd like to suggest that if you spend time making doll clothes, anyway, that you collect a few dolls from friends and neighbors and sew a wardrobe or a complete outfit for each doll. Then donate the doll in the completed outfit to a charity that distributes used dolls and toys to kids that otherwise would not have any.
Article and photo credit Susan Kramer
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