Hello, fellow creators of Paper Iconic! Are you ready for another exciting project today?
Back in the 17th to 19th centuries, papercraft did not arrive through downloadable files or digital archives. People discovered these treasures through printed color sheets, magazines, and lithographic play sets. These printed sheets were the beginning of what we now call papercraft culture. They were toys, educational materials, and creative crafts for both children and adults. They inspired imagination in an era when handcrafted entertainment was truly cherished.
One of the most influential names in this tradition was Oehmigke & Riemschneider, a renowned German publishing and printing company founded in the 19th century in Neuruppin. They became one of the largest producers of Bilderbogen, which were brilliantly colored printed sheets that included cut-and-assemble toys, story illustrations, paper models, and playful graphics for children. Over more than a century of operation, they produced more than ten thousand designs. Their work shaped European childhood culture and stood as an integral part of pre industrial German folk printing.
Today, their surviving prints are considered historical treasures. Many are preserved in museum collections such as SKD in Dresden and the V&A Museum in London. Hundreds of digitized examples can also be found on Wikimedia Commons, providing an invaluable window into the visual culture of past generations.
The papercraft model featured in this article is one of those preserved designs. The Vintage German House Diorama shared here comes from a scan archived by Der Arbeitskreis Geschichte des Kartonmodellbaus (AGK), the Working Group for the History of Cardboard Model Making. This German non profit organization is dedicated to researching and documenting five centuries of card model history, ensuring that early papercraft traditions continue to inspire modern creators. I also prepared a color adjusted version, which Paper Iconic is sharing so you can enjoy this model with clearer tones and sharper details.
This charming house reflects the spirit of the New Objectivity style that emerged in early twentieth century Germany. It has the clean lines and villa like silhouette typical of the movement. The interior layout and architectural colorwork also echo the aesthetics of contemporary art from that era. When assembled, the house looks almost like a hand painted architectural illustration brought into three dimensional form. The base plate fits beautifully with the structure and completes the display in a very satisfying way.
The original print was produced as a multicolor zinc plate lithograph measuring 33.5 by 40.5 cm, and the finished model reached approximately 14.7 by 22.6 by 12 cm. In the scanned version available today you will be printing the model on A4 paper, and the completed height becomes about 8.5 cm. Even at this reduced scale, the details remain delightful, making it a wonderful diorama for collectors, historians, and lovers of vintage papercraft.
Grab the Vintage German House Diorama papercraft template today to begin your creative journey. Shout out to the Working Group for the History of Cardboard Model Making for preserving and sharing this historical project.
Be sure to follow the Paper Iconic blog for more exciting projects. Visit my online shops for exclusive models and home décor ideas. And remember, every time you share or support, you’re helping keep this creative journey alive.
