SMALL WORLDS: DOLL HOUSES FROM V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD

The V&A Museum of Childhood’s major 2014—15 exhibition Small Stories: At home in a dolls’
house reveals the fascinating stories behind some of the UK’s best-loved dolls’ houses.
Through the stories of 12 dolls’ houses from the past 300 years, visitors are taken on a journey
through the history of the home, everyday lives and changing family relationships.
The small stories of each house are brought to life by the characters that live or work there.
Day-to-day life is illuminated through tales of marriages and parties, politics and crime. Each
house is displayed at a particular time of day and visitors can use buttons alongside the
showcases to activate the narration and light up each character as they talk.
The exhibition encompasses country mansions, the Georgian town house, suburban villas,
newly-built council estates and high-rise apartments. Displayed chronologically, the houses
also show developments in architecture and design.