Miniature doll collecting is a neat little niche in the antique doll world. Many doll collectors who are fond of the later dolls also enjoy the charm of the miniature editions of the 17th and 18th century. These dolls, however, did not come in a standardized size. Most people who collected dolls during the 17th and 18th century were very wealthy--you had to be in order to afford all of the fine accessories that came with the dolls. They were meant for adult entertainment only, since they were so precious. The dolls would vary in size and required customized furniture and houses. The houses were typically made from wood or wax. By the 19th century, doll houses became a child's toy as well. These miniatures were still only available to the wealthy, though. The dolls were crafted out of wood, while the houses were now created from bisque or glazed china. Size standards were still not set, and modern collectors tend to think of the houses from this time as messy due to their out-of-scale nature. Since the turn of the 20th century, sizes have become standard (a 1:1 ratio is common) and make for easier doll house production. Houses made in the 1950s were built out of plastic, which, by the 1960s, was replaced by metal. Due to the accessibility of materials for doll making (as well as house making), the popularity of miniatures has grown exponentially. No longer are the delights of playing with dolls and miniatures restricted to the wealthy.
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