Object Details
From:NHerts
Name/TitleDolls’ house
About this objectA large and well made doll’s house. The frontage consists of two doors hinged to the sides, each with three pairs of sash windows; there is a painted door on each side elevetion. The roof is flat, with two chimneys, one to either side. There are two drawers below. Inside, there are six rooms spread over three storeys, each decorated differently and containing a variety of scale furniture and dolls.
The house was made for the five daughters of the wealthy Seebohm family of The Hermitage, Hitchin.
During the first Coronavirus lockdown of 2020 North Hertfordshire Museum Visitor Services Assistant Nicola Viinikka researched and gave her opinion on this object.
What is the most interesting thing about this object?
That although clearly played with as a toy, that the style and layout reflects real life, with servants’ quarters at the bottom of the house and the family’s own, much grander quarters on the top two floors.
Further information
This dolls’ house belonged to Frederic Seebohm (1833-1912) a wealthy banker and philanthropist, who lived in The Hermitage. A large house on Bancroft, on the site now occupied by the former Kenmore Interiors, with gardens extending down as far as Queen Street/Walsworth Road, he donated part of these gardens to create Hermitage Road. He had six children, including five daughters, for whom the dolls’ house was made.
The earliest records of dolls’ houses or "baby houses" as they were also called, date back to the sixteenth century, but these were exclusive, tending to be replicas of wealthy family homes and were built as a record of the times rather than for hobby or play purposes. It was not until the Victorian era in the late 1800s that dolls houses became truly popular. It is clear that this dolls’ house was loved and played with.
The maker is of the dolls’ house is unknown; it is quite possible that it was made bespoke by a local cabinet maker. The style of the interior, with the family quarters on the top two floors and the servants’ quarters on the bottom, also reflects the original “baby houses” idea.
Date Made1860-1880
Period19th Century (1801-1900)
Named CollectionHitchin Museum
Credit LineFidelity Cranbrook, Red House Farm, Great Glemham, Saxmundham
Object TypeDoll’s house
Object number10972
Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved