An exquisite collection of miniature furniture from the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Art museums can impress not only with masterpieces of great artists, but also with unique collections. The Philadelphia museum houses a special treasure - a collection of dollhouse furniture.

This unsurpassed collection includes hundreds of exhibits, reproduced samples of interiors of different eras. Its story begins in the middle of the 20th century, when collector and philanthropist, Elsa Montgomery, donated her best doll furniture to a museum in Imline, Pennsylvania. Later, they were transferred to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where they became part of its collection.

The collection features different eras and styles, from the Renaissance to modern design. The reproduced furniture and accessories impress with their details and transmission of the atmosphere of their time. You can see sofas in the Baroque style, elegant antique cabinets from the Rococo era, as well as modern objects that reflect more modern trends in design.

For museum visitors, this is not just an exhibition - it is a journey through time. Each exhibit silently tells the story of its time. Guests can feel themselves in a luxurious salon or in a modern minimalist interior, depending on which exhibit they are viewing.

If we recall the filling of dollhouses, then the fashion for such furniture and the houses themselves was started in Europe in the 16th century. They began to appear to emphasize the wealth of wealthy people. Initially, dollhouses were quite large, but over time they became smaller, and in the 18th century a child could carry such a toy in his hands.

Until the 20th century, dollhouses and accessories were made by hand: masters created not only miniature houses, but also furniture for them, decorative items, dishes, etc. The toys were real works of art, and over time collectors began to pay attention to them.

Source: philamuseum.org