My "room box-ing" continues, this time with a vintage German school room box. I actually purchased this on US eBay (for a change!) for a very reasonable price, and it was nice not paying outrageous shipping fees. I have seen similar types of room boxes in the past, but have not yet done thorough research to pinpoint the maker. It is stamped "GERMANY" on the bottom and the orange desks and chairs have a "Made in West Germany" sticker. I was told by the seller that the teacher doll is Erna Meyer. The students are Caco, perhaps? I do not collect vintage dolls, but I know there are a lot of keen eyes out there, so please comment with your opinions.
UPDATE, 3/5/10: For diepuppenstubensammlerin, I have added two photos of the inside and back. Thanks for your detective work!
Your blog makes me want to get into collecting these things! I love it all! The history, the pictures and the small worlds! Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful surprise, I love those older room boxes, there are only a few different kinds to be found in Germany, by Modella e.g., so it is fascinating to discover a new kind.
ReplyDeleteYou are perfectly right about the makers of the dolls, I think the blonde Caco boys were not sold in Germany, but they were sold to Barton in England for their doll houses.
The two books are by Bodo Hennig.
Could you please please take a picture of the room box in full view? Perhaps it reminds s.o. of a similar room box and we could identify the origin.
Did you make the tiny pencils yourself? I once saw pencils made out of spaghetti pieces...
How cool is that... I like the teacher doll. Everything looks in great shape too. I can't thank you enough because we did venture out to Ikea. Hubby found the vegetable bins and boy am I having fun. I'm working on a post using them. Your use of that bin was so creative and I appreciate the tip. I didn't find anything else in the store because I was so focused on finding the bins. Love this classroom post. The kids look so smart.
ReplyDeleteHow adorable! You and Rebecca are making me want a school room box of my own!
ReplyDeleteWow! Great find! Love it. What is the map of? Is it antique? Man those Germans! They are the best! CM
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful set! This school has such cheerful bright colours, I remember my school as something really bland when I was a child. Very lovely dolls!
ReplyDeleteHi SheezKrafty! Thanks for your comment! Collecting brings me great joy...I love the excitement of a new find :)
ReplyDeleteHi diepuppenstubensammlerin! You'll see I added two more pictures as an update on the post. Let me know if you find any more clues! I appreciate the extra information about the Caco dolls and the Bodo Hennig books. I did not make the pencils myself; they came with the box. The seller told me she bought the box on eBay five years ago and then purchased the dolls and accessories separately. That's a good idea about spaghetti pieces...especially the ones that fall on the floor when I am making pasta!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy! I like the teacher doll too -- she really looks like a nice, but stern, lady in charge! That's great that you scored the boxes at IKEA, awesome hubby you have there! I can't wait to see what you're doing with them. I want to go back to get the longer rectangular size -- did you see that one?
ReplyDeleteHi Florine! I did not realize Rebecca had a school box...I should check it out! They are very charming, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteHi Carol! The map is in German and it is of North and South America. It looks original to the box, but not sure. I would imagine the box is from the 1950s or early 60s.
ReplyDeleteHey Pubdoll! Yes, it is bright and cheery, isn't it? I remember my school colors as gray, black and tan. And dark green. And no flowers on the windowsill!
ReplyDeletethanks for the extra photos, but no, does not ring any bells, the furniture looks like Modella furniture in orange
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/diepuppenstubensammlerin/4331399849/in/set-72157623108064054/
but the box is unknown to me - perhaps a very talented grandfather? it certainly has much atmosphere...
I just studied the picture more intensely and discovered the tiny flowers on the window sill - so it is not homemade after all...
ReplyDeletediepuppenstubensammlerin
Thanks, diepuppenstubensammlerin! I appreciate the extra close look. I agree that it is likely not homemade. The "GERMANY" stamp on the bottom makes me think it was manufactured, and also your point about the flowers. I will keep my eyes open! Thanks for the link, too. The desks do look like Modella.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cheery little schoolroom, nicely put together - and fascinating to read all the comments trying to figure out its origins! Did the seller say the desks came with the box, or did she buy them separately too?
ReplyDeleteI do have a school room box - a handmade German roombox in nice institutional colours of cream and pale green and brown! which I have filled with my Erna Meyer school sets. You can see it at http://rebeccascollections.blogspot.com/2009/06/erna-meyer-school-ca-1950s.html.
Have fun finding out more about this one and adding to it!
Hi Rebecca! The seller's email seemed to indicate that the desks came with the box, but not sure. I have already asked her more questions, so hopefully she will respond. Yours is very nice! I love all the dolls and accessories.
ReplyDeleteRebecca - the seller got back to me and says the globe, desks, and chairs all came with the box when she bought it on eBay 5 years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe school room is great - teacher looks a little like Margaret Thatcher!
ReplyDeletePan
http://smallstuff-blogspot.blogspot.com/
"Man those Germans! They are the best!" ;D thank you CM...
ReplyDeletethis school is so great - i loooove it. unfortunately my bells aren´t ringing either :( i think it´s from the 70s because of the colours of the roombox and furniture! i´ve never, never seen pencils like yours, they are so very cute!! some more dollhouse secrets we have to discover...
*nicola
Thanks, Pan! I LOVE your comment! SO TRUE! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Nicola! I think your guess is right on the timeframe. It does have a more "modern" look than other room boxes I have seen. The pencils are very cute, and the seller said she bought them separately. I will ask if she recalls where. I also love the Hennig books, having seen them in other blog photos. I love the secrets and the discoveries of this hobby!
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