The Doll and Toy Museum is located on the grounds of an old fortress on the island of Suomenlinna, so even the journey there will be interesting for both children and adults. Arriving on the island by steamboat, you will find a wooden villa - the former dacha of the Russian captain Vasilyev, built in 1911. This fairytale house is where the kingdom of collectible toys is located.
Like many other collections, the Doll and Toy Museum began with the private collection of one passionate enthusiast. Finnish artist Piippa Tandefelt started collecting rare and antique toys for her daughter. She was very lucky in finding rare items, so the collection grew rapidly. In 1985, Piippa decided to share her passion with the public. The museum became the family enterprise of the Tandefelt family - it is now run by Piippa's daughter, Petra.
Most of the items in the collection are dolls, soft toys, and figurines of a very respectable age - from the 19th century to the mid-20th century. German, French, and English exhibits provide an excellent idea of the everyday life of European children of the past. For example, a miniature three-story Finnish house is made with the finest detail, and all the interior items are an exact copy of the lifestyle of a well-to-do Finnish family from the beginning of the last century.
The museum has a small cozy cafe, where homemade pastries and sweets are served with Finnish coffee or Russian tea, and children are offered homemade lemonades based on old recipes. There is also a souvenir shop here, where you can buy a wonderful gift for friends and loved ones.
