Rich Toys produced this lovely colonial mansion dollhouse in 1938, No. 288.
It is decorated with a wood medallion in the pediment above the porch, four large pillars,
seventeen windows with painted on shutters, printed shrubbery,
and two large chimneys on either end. A vintage ad for this house shows two lawn extensions with six imitation pine trees. George Mundorf is lucky enough to have discovered an example, shown here.
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This is a large house, 34" wide, 24½" tall at the chimneys, and 16" deep. It is also bulky and heavy when one has to move it alone. This house became part of my collection in 2021. Some of the original furniture has traveled with it over the 84 years of existence.
I have used most of the original furniture and additional pieces from my collection.
The kitchen is furnished with Lynnfield appliances and a Kage table and chairs.
The stool and waste basket are Strombecker.
Lynnfield appliances.
The pantry is one of my additions.
The Kage table and chairs are one of the earlier sets, I added two chairs.
Kage produced dollhouse furniture from 1938-1948.
The dining room is furnished with what is referred to as
German red-stain furniture.
The table and two chairs came with the house.
The hutch is also original to the house; I added the accessories.
The clock, hanging by the stairs, is original to the house.
The living room is furnished with Lynnfield, Strombecker, Dolly Dear
and the built-in fireplace.
The piano and clock are original to the house.
The coffee table is the only item pictured that is original to the house.
The wing back chair and ottoman plus the side table
are part of the furniture original to the house.
Upstairs, the bathroom is furnished with Strombecker, Dolly Dear
and Grandmother Stover pieces.
The sink and commode are original to the house....
also the bathtub, hamper and vanity with bench.
The nursery is furnished with Strombecker, exception is mom's chair.
The youth bed, step stool, side table, the small desk and chair behind
the little girl, and the bed covers also are original to the house.
The yellow duck shoofly, toy box and chifforobe completed
the nursery set original to the house. I created the
bannister rail and then discovered that on Ebay
austinnoggles sells a lovely one at a reasonable price.
The parent's bedroom is furnished with Strombecker,
Lynnfield and Dolly Dear.
The bed and dresser are original to the house.
This house is over-flowing with pink roses....not what I originally planned.
Original Updated with fire box, grate
with logs, and fender.
This original fireplace has been found in Rich Toys dollhouses as early as 1936.
I have always thought it had a 1970s design.
Rich continued to use the fireplace in later editions of their houses
but without the wooden andirons.
Bedroom, with Lynnfield wing chair, desk and desk stool,
Strombecker vanity, bedside table, bed and chest.
Dolly Dear lamps.
Below are the pieces of furniture that have lived in the house for the last 84 years.
(Accessories are mine.) It is in surprisingly good condition for its' age.
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Items that came with the house that I didn't find a place for:
Strombecker chair, radio, clock, small round table and candle stick.
The white candle sticks are probably Dolly Dear.
The desk and bench are newer items
as is the coat that hung on the coat rack by the front door.
I think it is wonderful that these lovely vintage dollhouses have survived over the decades
....and particularly happy when they come to live with me.
