Collecting Miniature Furniture
My miniature furniture collection is primarily comprised of doll- and child-size chairs. These chairs can be functional as well as decorative. Miniature furniture is especially easy to display because it lends itself to tabletop vignettes. For example, a group of similar scale chairs placed on a table can hold small vases filled with flowers.
Recently I purchased an antique bentwood highchair. While the chair isn't in perfect condition and is missing the tray, it’s still a great antique example of a doll-size highchair. I wonder if it’s a salesman’s sample because of the amount of work that went into caning the seat, and the more labor-intensive work of bending the wood to construct the chair.
At an estate sale I was fortunate enough to discover and purchase an antique Windsor doll-size chair with plank seat in original red paint. The construction of the chair is an important consideration. In this case, the seat is a single piece of wood and the spindles are carefully placed. Chairs like these are made for a child to play with but I’m impressed by the care and attention to detail, down to the red milk paint. The red paint, barely visible in some areas, adds charm and is very desirable for collectors.
One of my favorite items in my collection is a vintage red Porky Pig armchair. I purchased it at an auction more than ten years ago. It’s made of bright red vinyl and dates back to the mid-to-late 1960s. I imagine it might have been part of a suite of chairs that included Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. It's the perfect size for a five-year-old. In fact, all four of my kids have used it!
Not old, but sweet, is this child-size stencil decorated cupboard in mustard paint.
I find that collecting miniature furniture lets me delve into other areas that I might not have been interested in. One example is salesmen’s samples. I regularly search out these items and it’s interesting to try and figure out if an object is a sample or an item made in miniature. With all my purchases my intention is to eventually sell, but with some items, like miniature furniture, I take my time and enjoy!
Watch the pickers search for miniature furniture in Chantilly, VA!
