Art of the Dollhouse

Visit the Art of the Dollhouse exhibition at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts opening October 22 and look at how miniature homes have shaped our ideas about domestic life over three centuries. The multi-floor exhibition draws from the Elizabeth Johnston Prime Dollhouse Collection, along with loans from private collectors and public institutions. It’s a show for decorative arts enthusiasts, design-curious day-trippers, and families who want to see the world rendered at one-twelfth scale. Here the dollhouse isn’t a toy; it is a cultural object that quietly records how we’ve imagined home.

What You’ll See in the Art of the Dollhouse Exhibition

This exhibition traces the dollhouse across multiple floors and several centuries, beginning with its origins as an object of instruction and display. Wealthy European women once used elaborate “baby houses” to teach household management and signal status. From there, the exhibition moves through later periods and into the present day, where contemporary artists treat the miniature as a serious artistic medium.

Historical dollhouses sit alongside modern interpretations so visitors can see how artists working centuries apart have used scale, detail, and narrative to ask the same questions. Who lives here? What does this home say about them? What does it leave out?

The result is an exhibition about more than miniatures. It’s about gender roles, craftsmanship, design history, and the evolving idea of home itself.

What is the Elizabeth Johnston Prime Dollhouse Collection?

The vast majority of dollhouses at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts come from the Elizabeth Johnston Prime Collection. Johnston Prime was born in 1927 and had a strong family connection to Bethlehem, PA. Her grandfather served as a vice president of Bethlehem Steel Corp. and later became the city’s first mayor. She began collecting antique dollhouses and miniatures in her early 40s and spent decades building one of the largest private dollhouse collections in the United States.

As her collection grew, Johnston Prime needed to add an apartment to house all of the miniature structures and thousands of related pieces. When Johnston Prime died in 2006, she bequeathed the collection to Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites. The donation included 44 antique dollhouses and miniature buildings, along with more than 6,000 miniature objects such as dolls, furniture, paintings, rugs and dishes.

Art of the Dollhouse Tour Options

More information and tickets coming soon!

Self-Guided Tour

Explore the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts’ Elizabeth Johnston Prime Dollhouse Collection alongside institutional loans at your own pace, tracing the artistry and craftsmanship embedded in domestic objects across centuries. From intricately furnished Victorian parlors to contemporary works by miniature artists pushing the form forward, every room rewards a closer look. $14 for adults, $7 for children, and Free for HBMS Members.

Guided Tour

This docent-led tour offers an in-depth examination of miniature-making as a distinguished tradition within the decorative arts. Drawing on the museum’s celebrated Elizabeth Johnston Prime Dollhouse Collection and institutional loans, the tour traces the evolution of the dollhouse from a symbol of domestic aspiration to a serious vehicle of artistic expression. Participants will explore questions of craft, material culture, and design across centuries, with close attention to the artistry and historical context of each work.

Tours are offered at 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM and runs approximately 60 minutes; tickets must be purchased online in advance, as capacity for each tour is limited. $20 for adults, $10 for children, and Free for HBMS Members.

Collector Hour

Before the doors open to the public, the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts extends a special invitation to collectors, miniature artisans, and enthusiasts. This private, self-guided hour offers rare, unhurried access to the Elizabeth Johnston Prime Dollhouse Collection and the exhibition’s most exceptional works. $30

Specialty Tours

Specialty tours exploring topics such as textile, architecture, and more will be offered throughout the run of the exhibition. Check back for scheduled dates.

Art of the Dollhouse Related Programming

Miniature Masterpieces

Unleash your creativity in the charming world of miniature watercolors! In this hands-on workshop on October 31 from 12 PM – 3 PM led by Diane E. Israel, you’ll master scale and design at 1/12 scale to craft your own tiny masterpiece in watercolor.