7The dollhouse is both subversive and seductive. Dollhouses provide a microcosmic view of the world and preserve vanished aspects of daily life and culture. But they also present an idealized version of life, sometimes airbrushing out the more basic and functional elements of everyday living. This new volume uses the dollhouse's contradictions to explore interior design, new technology, professions, and family relationships, con­sidering such topics as the role of the domestic servant and the gendering of spaces and household roles. The V&A Museum of Childhood's collection of dollhouses, representing homes and ways of living spanning three and a half centuries, provides the backdrop for these tales. For collectors and casual fans alike, the tiny rooms of dollhouses hold many stories.