Mrs Mirylees, a local resident, had been collecting dolls houses and dolls for some 40 years until her recent death and there was plenty to arouse collectors’ interest. One of the more unusual lots, which attracted considerable enthusiasm among the older generations of the specialist trade, was the rare 1930s house pictured right.
From the Tri-ang Ultra-modern series, No 53, the two-storey, flat roofed, Art Deco detached house was, at 3ft 4in by 18in (1.01m x 45cm) one of the largest of this style ever made.
With a sun deck, removable sun room, bay window with balcony and integral garage, the house, painted in cream with green details, had some minor wear and sold to a collector at £620.
The contents of the house, which were sold as a separate lot and included a cooker, crockery, beds and a high chair also took £620. Best of the non-collection pieces were a quantity of 00 gauge railway items including a Hornby Mallard 4-6-2 engine and a Tri-ang R81 Yeovil station set which took £240 and a 1930s Minic searchlight lorry finished in dark green with a red chassis in its original box, and with a standard type cab, and battery box, which brought £220.
Art Deco delights in dolls’ housing market
ARMS and toys are specialities of Lewes auctioneers Wallis & Wallis (15% buyer’s premium) and on June 11 their 285 lots of toys included die-cast tinplate toys, toy soldiers and the Mirylees Collection of Dolls’ Houses and dolls.
