MARX TIN DOLLHOUSE
This is a duplicate of my very first dollhouse received as a child. Made by Marx Toy Company in New York, of course I didn't design or build it. This one came from EBAY and had to be assembled, but that is all. Otherwise it is in mint condition and has obviously fared much better over the years than mine did, which is now in a small town museum.
Unfortunately the house from EBAY did not include any of the original plastic furniture made by the Renwal Toy Company. but since there are hundreds of photos of these furnishings online I decided to create my own simulated plastic items out of wood and polymer clay, painted the bright colors and coated with a high gloss medium. This photo is of all the pieces I made---not the original plastic ones.
The living/dining room furnishings include a china cabinet, dining table and 4 chairs, 2 floor lamps, a sofa, a side chair, a telephone table with telephone and a floor model radio/record player of the time period with 3 records.
All the kitchen furnishings, the table and chairs, the stove, the sink and the refrigerator match the original plastic pieces as closely as possible with wood, paint and polymer clay.
Even though this model of the Marx Tin house had a garage, to my mind it was always a utility room. It has a sewing machine and chair, a wringer washer, the ironing board, a trash can, a carpet sweeper, a rag mop and the authentic looking Hoover vacuum.
The available plastic nursery pieces from Renwal were too numerous to count. I chose only the few that I thought would comfortably fit in the room space allowed. There's the changing/bath table, the playpen, the crib, a potty chair and high chair.
The bath fixtures came in a choice of colors. For some reason my mind said they should be pink. From left to right are the sink, the tub, the laundry hamper and the toilet.
The bedroom is the last area I've finished with a chest, a dresser, 2 night stands and a bed. Then there's a portable radio, a mantel clock and 3 table lamps
The only space left that I haven't furnished is the above-the-garage patio, as can be seen in the top photos. I'm still debating between creating the children's playground equipment consisting of a teeter-totter, a sliding board and a tricycle, or the more adult patio equipment of picnic table with umbrella and a lounge chair. Time will tell which wins out.
I also have good clear photos of the dolls that came with my childhood house, so I might try to recreate them from polymer clay some time in the future.
I also have good clear photos of the dolls that came with my childhood house, so I might try to recreate them from polymer clay some time in the future.
