Meaningful Toys for the Child in All of Us

Collecting antique dolls and toys can be a wonderful hobby and investment, says dollhouse and antique toy specialist Michael J. Kouri.

But the most exciting aspect of collecting antique dolls, doll houses and toys is that you don’t only buy the history of the antique, you are also transported back to the era which that particular toy was made.

“Dolls and toys can teach us a lot about history and our past. I have a doll house from the 17th century. The miniatures in that house show what life is like in 17th century Germany. The miniatures in the doll house include an old fashioned cast iron wood burning stove that actually heats up, as well as the furniture and the type of bed they slept on during that time. Everything in that doll house reflects life in the 17th century,” Kouri said in an interview.

Another aspect of collecting [dolls], particularly to those who love history, is that it teaches us what humans did in the past, he said.

Kouri speaks, eats and sleeps dolls and toys. After all, he had been exposed to antique dolls since he was around four years old when her mother Barbara and her girlfriend used to pick her up from kindergarten school and drive all the way to downtown Los Angeles from their home in Burbank, to look for antique dolls and toys.

And her mom, whom he said loves to “recollect the things she had when she was a child,” regularly make the trip to Los Angeles “for years” almost two times a month that exposed him to the world of collectible antique dolls and toys. On weekend, he would go with his mom to antique shows where he developed an interest in miniatures.

He said, “So by the time I was 10, I was very well versed in antique dolls and toys because my mother loved them. I learned that dolls are not just play things, they are work of art.”

“I had my own business license when I was 13 building doll houses. I was even featured on a television show called “That’s Incredible” where I was called the youngest business man in America. I have been in business ever since,” Kouri added.

Now at 48-years-old, Kouri can claim to be an expert antique dealer being involved in antiques all his life.

Although there was a time in his life when Kouri tried other venture. Having been gifted with a good voice, Kouri was once an opera singer. However, his love for dolls would always keep him attending antique and thrift shops during days when he has no performance. So he ended up buying dolls and toys and selling them to doll shows that earned him nice profits that he put for his college education.

“I literally built up my life by being an antique dealer,” he declared.<p>

This Saturday, Kouri will be holding a doll show in Glendale called “Happy Dolling Doll Show,” the longest running self-promoted doll show in Southern California. Many antique dealers are expected to attend the event to sell antique dolls, modern dolls, doll houses, toys, and miniatures.

Kouri, who is a regional director for the United Federation of Doll Club which has 16 chapters in the world, described the doll world as “internationally huge.” But he claims to be in the know of what people are collecting and the things that he sells reflects that.

Aside from selling his collections online, Kouri’s dolls and toys can be bought at the Pasadena Arts & Design. He carries a wide variety of antiques dolls and toys, from the 1700s to the modern times. But Kouri’s specialty is 20th century doll houses.

He added, “Not many people collect the type of houses that I have. I have wooden houses that are from the 18th and 19th century. I have houses made of tin that little girls and boys play in the 1950s that are completely furnished.  I also sell all kinds of all kinds of furniture for the houses that they collect.”

Unfortunately, there are no more miniature shops that sell doll house furniture as most of these specialty shops have gone out of business. Luckily, Kouri said that his shop at Pasadena Arts & Design, have a wide variety of antiques and collectibles. He even make his own doll house design.

“Our store is really beautiful. I think it is the most beautiful antique store in Southern California,” he said describing the shop.

Kouri also sells child size chairs, rolly polly dolls, candy containers from the turn of the century that still contains the original candies because they were not opened, tin toys, wind up toys and others. He said he has a big collection of antique and vintage Halloween items, and some very, very rare items that are very hard to find. But he said those items very expensive. “But if someone is willing to pay the right price then I will let them have it, otherwise, I will keep it in my collection.

Kouri also revealed that he has a new book that will come out soon titled “Hunted Houses of Hollywood Land” that took him 35 years to research. “It’s finally coming out. The book will only be sold in a store is in Pasadena Antiques & Design center,” he said.