dolls house source information

The Victorian Parlour

The parlour was rated below the drawing room in the Victorian room hierarchy. In a middle class house it would have been the main reception room for receiving guests. In wealthier homes it might be a family room. Two or more parlours may be connected by sliding doors that could be opened out on important occasion to give a feeling or increased space. As the Victorian era progressed, the trend for a front parlour for entertaining guests and a back parlour for spending time with the family became increasingly popular. A large central table in the back parlour enabled it to double as a dining room.

Parlours could be packed with furniture. Main pieces included:-

Parlour chairs
Assorted tables
Sofa
Etageres
Chiffoniers
Cabinets, dressers and sideboards
Upholstered chairs
Piano

Common accessories would included:-

Embroidery and needlepoint
Collections of glass and chinaware
Crochet and lacework coverings on shelves, chair backs
Birds in cages
Musical instruments
Pictures
Busts
Plates
Figurines
Aspidistra

The Parlour Room As A Family Room

From the mid nineteenth century, the creation of housing for the lower middle classes boomed. They tended to be similarly laid out inside and would invariably contain a “family room.”

Richly papered walls, separated by dado and picture rail, dark and mahogany floors and woodwork were typical.

Curtains would have been heavy and pelmeted. The room was designed for work, hobbies and entertainment. As well as the now ubiquitous display of personal possessions (often mass produced)

on whatnots, work boxes, musical instruments and collections of art work might be crammed into this room.

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