Christmas in Late August

Despite the skyrocketing heat & humidity

this weekend, I had to think

"Christmas".

It's that time of year for me

to get my display ready for 

the annual 

"Antique Christmas at the Taft Museum of Art"

Luckily, this year, I'm only doing one display case,

but it's the largest one, 74" long X 28" wide & 40" high.

I decide my "theme" will be Victorian. In the case,

I'll be using a small feather tree decorated with Dresden

ornaments, 19th scrap paper & candy containers. Plus

a clockwork nodder Santa and various

antique toys.

In the center will be my 

McLoughlin Brothers folding dollhouse.

Since I don't own any "real" Victorian

dollhouse furniture,  I've decided to use

a collection of late 19th c. paper dolls

made by the Lion Coffee Company. 

(the dolls look faded in my photos,

but that's just the way the light was 

hitting them)

These were giveaways, in sets of 4 pieces,

included in bags of Lion coffee.

The company was located in

Toledo, Ohio (my home town!),  and their

holiday trade cards are very collectible these days.

Here's a close up of 

"The Library" set.

Notice how each piece is slotted

so they can be interlocked

to make one unit.

There were 16 different sets of dolls

that were produced. I'm not sure if

the company also made a dollhouse

for these to used in.