Mattel Modern Furniture Partial #814 Assortment with Two Store Counter Displays (Mattel, 1958)....

Description

Mattel Modern Furniture Partial #814 Assortment with Two Store Counter Displays (Mattel, 1958). This partial #814 "Modern Furniture Assortment Deal" originates from Mattel's 1958 Modern Furniture program, introduced nationally during the July-December 1958 season and promoted on The Mickey Mouse Club. Designed for 8" to 10½" dolls and constructed of hardwood with decorator fabrics, the Mattel Modern line predates Barbie's 1959 debut and reflects Mattel's early ambition to produce contemporary, lifestyle-driven accessories before the fashion doll market reshaped the company's trajectory. The clean-lined sofas, studio groupings, bedroom suites, and storage pieces embody a distinctly mid-century aesthetic, translating adult interior design trends into scaled furnishings for juvenile consumers. Included are multiple boxed examples from the Studio Set and Studio Bed groupings, along with a selection of Queen Bed, Dresser & Mirror, Open Wardrobe, Buffet, and End Table & Lamp pieces, accompanied by the original typed shipping manifest detailing the national introductory offer. As outlined in the manifest, the complete assortment was intended to contain a specific balance of stock numbers across living room, bedroom, and dining configurations; the present group represents a partial recovery from the shipper, with some models present in surplus and others absent. The factory boxes were unsealed as issued, and while the overall assortment is incomplete, the furniture components appear unused, retaining clean finishes and well-preserved upholstery consistent with long-term boxed storage. Two original Mattel Modern cardboard counter displays are included, showing handling wear, edge stress, and surface marks from period retail use, yet remaining structurally sound and visually intact. As an early pre-Barbie Mattel merchandising program complete with period paperwork and display materials, this partial shipper offers a rare glimpse into the company's formative retail strategy just before the introduction of the doll that would redefine its future.

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