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We've fallen in love!!!
We have become totally fascinated with antique Bliss
dollhouses. If you don't know what a Bliss dollhouse is,
read on....
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Bliss Manufacturing Co was located in Pawtucket, Rhode
Island. They made many products in their 100 year history, but
they are best known for their wooden toys and dollhouses covered with
lithographed paper. Today, Bliss toys and dollhouses have become
highly desired by collectors, and are featured in many museum
collections.
The Bliss company began as a producer of wooden screws and clamps
for piano and cabinet makers. While the exact date that they
began manufacture of toys is not known, the earliest know
advertisement for Bliss toys appeared in 1871. The majority of
the dollhouses that I have found in my research were made around the
turn of the century. In addition to dollhouses, they produced
lithographed blocks, pull toys, games, and even tiny pianos and tool
chests for lucky children.
The dollhouses were not elaborate - particularly compared with our
dollhouses today. No working windows, intricate moldings,
electric lamps, sidings or even shingles or shutters. The bliss
dollhouses were simply constructed, usually with only a few rooms.
They were designed in late-Victorian style. Their shapes and
sizes were enhanced by fancy gables and dormers, porches, balconies,
posts and pillars. Some houses had cut out windows lined with
isinglass and lace curtains and opening front doors. However,
for the most part, the architectural details of a Bliss house are
created in the fabulous lithographed artwork. Even the
"turned" porch posts are sometimes artwork around a square
piece of wood which implied balls and turnings. Elaborate
trimmings, railings, sidings, etc. were all incorporated into the
lithograph artwork and were done in wonderfully rich colors.
The interiors were sometimes decorated with lithographed wallpaper,
floor coverings, windows, doors, etc.
Scale did not seem to be a big factor for these toys. The
sizes range anywhere from a simple two room house that stands 10"
in height to a wonderfully elaborate large house with two stories and
an attic that measures 24" in height. In addition to
houses, bliss fire houses, garages, and stables were popular toys of
the day.
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After lots of experimenting, tinkering, fiddling and computer time, we
have created a line of tiny "bliss inspired" dollhouses for
the dollhouse. They are made much in the same way as the
originals, and are as faithful to the original artwork designs as
possible. Our houses are made from wood, and high quality
printed designs are then applied to both the interior and exterior of
the house. They vary in size, as we have scaled the sizes
of the original houses down to 1/12" scale. Some of these will
sit on a table in your dollhouse, others are larger and look better on
the floor of your dollhouse.. We have left the back open on our
houses, and have completed the interiors with wallpapering, floor
coverings, windows and doors.
Each of our designs will be available as a finished, signed
numbered piece, or in kit form for the do-it-yourselfer. The
finished houses are available exclusively thru Daisy's Dollhouse
Miniatures.
Below are photos of the first five in our series of twelve mini
bliss buildings. The black and white photos are examples of the
original houses which served as our inspiration. |
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The Keyhole
Cottage
The black and white photo shows an original
example of this darling diminutive house. I love the
steep pitch of the roof, and the tall spindly chimney, but my
favorite part is the lattice upper porch enclosure with the
opening cut into it which gives the house it's name. The black
and white photo shows an original dollhouse, the color photos,
our mini re-creations. Our tiny house measures just 1
3/4 in height.
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The Duplex
We named this house the Duplex because we
immediately noticed the two separate front doors and steps,
and also the way that the upper floor was divided.
Perhaps this was an early apartment complex? Whatever
you call it, it is the most intricate of our houses so far,
requiring nearly 80 separate pieces. This house stands 2 3/4" in
height.
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The Balcony House
Named for it's cute little balcony, this
mini house measures 1 3/4 in height. Black and white
photo is of an original, full size model. The artwork on
this house was very interesting, and reminds me in some ways
of a Swiss chalet. Notice the yellow fish shaped emblem
in the center front of the balcony... it is one of the ways
that bliss houses were signed.
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Small Americana House
While the lines of this house are quite
simple, the artwork is really wonderful!! Intricate
borders, and tiny stonework and a wonderful heart shaped motif
over the porch which is where the original house bore the
bliss emblem. I love the arched windows and the two
chimneys! Our house measures 1 3/4" in height.
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The Flower House
Another house that is simple in
construction, and lavish with artwork! Flower motifs
over the windows give this house it's name. The tiny colored
stonework pattern around the windows and around the base is
just delightful, as is the beading and colorful petal pattern
at the roof edge. This charming abode measures approx. 1
3/4" in height.
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If you are interested in purchasing a
finished, limited edition piece, please use this link to visit
Daisy's Dollhouse Minis. (www.daisysdollhouseminis.com) |
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