Bettiscombe | Unknown | V&A Explore The Collections
Source: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O112667
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:12
Bettiscombe | Unknown | V&A Explore The Collections
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JPG
+78
+76
images
On display
Young V&A
Imagine Gallery, Living Together, Case 4
Bettiscombe
Doll's House
ca. 1870
(made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
England
(made)
Betty Pinney was born in 1907, the youngest of four girls. She studied art and later on designed wallpapers and textiles for the Edinburgh Weavers and then for Sandersons. She designed book covers, railway posters and also illustrated books. The dolls' house was found by a friend who ran an antique shop and sold to Betty Pinney for £5. The house was made in about 1870.
Her daughter Susanna tells us that her mother decided to recreate her childhood in miniature combining this with a family who had worked abroad for the Empire which gave her greater freedom with the furnishings. She was an accomplished seamstress and made many of the furnishings herself. Other items were given to her by friends or made for her. The house is therefore a portrait of life in a wealthy household from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. It has two unusual features in that it has a roof garden and a lift which can be operated by turning the handle gently.
Object details
Categories
Children & Childhood
Dolls & Toys
Dolls' Houses
Interiors
Object type
Doll's house
Titles
Bettiscombe
(assigned by artist)
Miss Pinney's House
(popular title)
Materials and techniques
Wood, glass, paper, textiles, metals
Wood
Glass
Paper
Metal
Carving
Printing
Brief description
'Bettiscombe' dolls' house made in England ca.1870
Physical description
Rectangular shaped dolls' house of unpainted wood with a flat castellated roof supporting two chimneys. There is a tower adjoining one short end which extends beyond the roof and contains a lift which is operated by turning a metal crank handle at the base. The house is accessible at all sides through six hinged full length doors and one small hinged door.There are also two removable panels in the centre of each long side.The house has three floors: Ground floor with kitchen (with back door), dining room and hallway (with front door and steps); First floor with spare bedroom, drawing room and landing; Second floor with bedroom, chapel, nursery and landing. There is a roof garden which is accessible via the lift in the tower. The rooms are wallpapered and carpetted throughout as well as being fully furnished. All the windows are glazed; with curtains or blinds.
Dimensions
Height: 1160mm
Width: 1330mm
Depth: 650mm
(all doors closed)
Depth: 1245mm
(centre doors open to 90 degree angle from house)
Production type
Unique
Gallery label
(2023)
A redecorated home
The well-travelled dolls in this Victorian doll’s house have plenty of souvenirs from their trips. They also have a busy kitchen, a roof garden and a lift to take them upstairs.
Bettiscombe doll’s house and accessories
Made by an unknown maker and decorated by Betty Pinney
Made in 1870s, decorated in 1970s
England
Given by Miss S. Pinney
Museum no. MISC.14-1988
[Young V&A, Imagine Gallery, Living Together, short object label]
Credit line
Given by Miss S. Pinney
Production
Attribution note: The house was probably made by an estate carpenter in about 1870 and furnished later by the donor's mother Mrs Betty Pinney. Mrs Pinney made some of the furnishings but many were bought or commissioned.
Subjects depicted
Houses
Dollhouses
Summary
Betty Pinney was born in 1907, the youngest of four girls. She studied art and later on designed wallpapers and textiles for the Edinburgh Weavers and then for Sandersons. She designed book covers, railway posters and also illustrated books. The dolls' house was found by a friend who ran an antique shop and sold to Betty Pinney for £5. The house was made in about 1870.
Her daughter Susanna tells us that her mother decided to recreate her childhood in miniature combining this with a family who had worked abroad for the Empire which gave her greater freedom with the furnishings. She was an accomplished seamstress and made many of the furnishings herself. Other items were given to her by friends or made for her. The house is therefore a portrait of life in a wealthy household from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. It has two unusual features in that it has a roof garden and a lift which can be operated by turning the handle gently.
Collection
Young V&A Collection
Accession number
MISC.14-1988
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created
June 6, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O112667/bettiscombe-dolls-house-unknown/
Download as:
JSON
IIIF Manifest
You may also like
Skip to main content
Image
of
License this image
To license this image or for more information please contact our Licensing team.
Email us
We can manage your request more quickly if you include the following information:
Image reference number:
XXX
Title and author (if applicable)
Publisher/Producer/Broadcaster
Planned release date
Print run or number of units
Image size and position, example 1/4 page, full screen, front cover, inside
Languages/territorial distribution
Digital rights - format details and license period
Download image
By downloading this image you agree that you will not use it commercially, as defined in our full
terms and conditions
.
You can use the image for:
Non-commercial research and private study
Teaching and instruction
Non-commercial publishing (up to A5-size, and in print runs of up to 4000 copies)
Non-commercial online use, up to 768 pixels, and for up to 5 years
Please indicate that you accept all terms to proceed
I agree to the full terms and conditions
Other uses, including exhibition catalogue and display, broadcast, advertising, book jackets and commercial packaging, are covered by our commercial terms.
Please
contact our Licensing team
for more information.
JPG
+78
+76
images
On display
Young V&A
Imagine Gallery, Living Together, Case 4
Bettiscombe
Doll's House
ca. 1870
(made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
England
(made)
Betty Pinney was born in 1907, the youngest of four girls. She studied art and later on designed wallpapers and textiles for the Edinburgh Weavers and then for Sandersons. She designed book covers, railway posters and also illustrated books. The dolls' house was found by a friend who ran an antique shop and sold to Betty Pinney for £5. The house was made in about 1870.
Her daughter Susanna tells us that her mother decided to recreate her childhood in miniature combining this with a family who had worked abroad for the Empire which gave her greater freedom with the furnishings. She was an accomplished seamstress and made many of the furnishings herself. Other items were given to her by friends or made for her. The house is therefore a portrait of life in a wealthy household from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. It has two unusual features in that it has a roof garden and a lift which can be operated by turning the handle gently.
Object details
Categories
Children & Childhood
Dolls & Toys
Dolls' Houses
Interiors
Object type
Doll's house
Titles
Bettiscombe
(assigned by artist)
Miss Pinney's House
(popular title)
Materials and techniques
Wood, glass, paper, textiles, metals
Wood
Glass
Paper
Metal
Carving
Printing
Brief description
'Bettiscombe' dolls' house made in England ca.1870
Physical description
Rectangular shaped dolls' house of unpainted wood with a flat castellated roof supporting two chimneys. There is a tower adjoining one short end which extends beyond the roof and contains a lift which is operated by turning a metal crank handle at the base. The house is accessible at all sides through six hinged full length doors and one small hinged door.There are also two removable panels in the centre of each long side.The house has three floors: Ground floor with kitchen (with back door), dining room and hallway (with front door and steps); First floor with spare bedroom, drawing room and landing; Second floor with bedroom, chapel, nursery and landing. There is a roof garden which is accessible via the lift in the tower. The rooms are wallpapered and carpetted throughout as well as being fully furnished. All the windows are glazed; with curtains or blinds.
Dimensions
Height: 1160mm
Width: 1330mm
Depth: 650mm
(all doors closed)
Depth: 1245mm
(centre doors open to 90 degree angle from house)
Production type
Unique
Gallery label
(2023)
A redecorated home
The well-travelled dolls in this Victorian doll’s house have plenty of souvenirs from their trips. They also have a busy kitchen, a roof garden and a lift to take them upstairs.
Bettiscombe doll’s house and accessories
Made by an unknown maker and decorated by Betty Pinney
Made in 1870s, decorated in 1970s
England
Given by Miss S. Pinney
Museum no. MISC.14-1988
[Young V&A, Imagine Gallery, Living Together, short object label]
Credit line
Given by Miss S. Pinney
Production
Attribution note: The house was probably made by an estate carpenter in about 1870 and furnished later by the donor's mother Mrs Betty Pinney. Mrs Pinney made some of the furnishings but many were bought or commissioned.
Subjects depicted
Houses
Dollhouses
Summary
Betty Pinney was born in 1907, the youngest of four girls. She studied art and later on designed wallpapers and textiles for the Edinburgh Weavers and then for Sandersons. She designed book covers, railway posters and also illustrated books. The dolls' house was found by a friend who ran an antique shop and sold to Betty Pinney for £5. The house was made in about 1870.
Her daughter Susanna tells us that her mother decided to recreate her childhood in miniature combining this with a family who had worked abroad for the Empire which gave her greater freedom with the furnishings. She was an accomplished seamstress and made many of the furnishings herself. Other items were given to her by friends or made for her. The house is therefore a portrait of life in a wealthy household from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. It has two unusual features in that it has a roof garden and a lift which can be operated by turning the handle gently.
Collection
Young V&A Collection
Accession number
MISC.14-1988
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created
June 6, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O112667/bettiscombe-dolls-house-unknown/
Download as:
JSON
IIIF Manifest
You may also like