Antique doll house for sale in new FAO Schwarz catalog

WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON -- A miniature Dutch Colonial villa -- complete with lacquered cardboard furniture and three tiny inhabitants -- that was sold in June after the closing of the Washington Dolls' House and Toy Museum here has popped up in the FAO Schwarz holiday catalog.
The house was among 589 lots auctioned after Flora Gill Jacobs, renowned dolls' house scholar and collector, decided at age 85 she could no longer keep her beloved, money-losing museum afloat.
Among the 500 collectors, dealers and museum officials at the sale was Eric Alberta, antique-toy and doll expert for the New York toy emporium, who bought more than 20 pieces. The villa, built circa 1910 by German manufacturer Moritz Gottschalk, sold for $7,700, according to sale organizer Noel Barrett. In the FAO catalog, villa and furnishings, including a teeny garden sundial and baby carriage, are priced at $12,500.
The toy company is now emerging from bankruptcy, and Alberta's other purchases will be sold in one of the pared-down firm's New York and Las Vegas shops, on its soon-to-debut Web site, www.fao.com, or through its catalog, (800) 426-8697.
"This is really for big kids, for parents to come in and maybe show their children what they had, or to put in perspective what was around 100 years ago when there were no video games," said Alberta.