Chris Toledo dusting the 1920s kitchen his dollhouse, La Cas California
Chris Toledo, Artisan
The ABC television station in Los Angeles called Chris Toledo “LA’s Michael Angelo of Miniatures.” Living in Alhambra, California and surrounded by the Spanish/Mediterranean homes that became popular in the 1920s, it’s not surprising this miniature artisan focuses on that style of dollhouses. La Casa California featured here is a great example.
The following is Chris’s website About page:
“My miniature adventure began as a kid after coming across an issue of nutshell news for the first time. Growing up, I wasn’t into regular toys and games. So upon discovering the world of miniatures, I was instantly intrigued. I remember
asking Santa for my first dollhouse kit around age 8, and sure enough, the big guy delivered that year. It was a simple log cabin kit by a company that no longer exists today, and I never remember being so excited on a Christmas morning.
1920s bottled-gas cookstove
My Dad worked in construction and woodworking while my mom loved to paint and sew. So naturally, I had always had an interest in art and architecture. I never had an interest in dolls, but I loved everything about the dollhouses themselves. I loved the process, the furnishing, the details. After finishing the first kit, I knew I wanted to dive further into this world, and by age 13, I had completed my third kit.
Having a father who worked in construction, I learned about the concept of architecture at a very young age. I vividly remember going to work with my dad, who mainly focused on painting/restoring historic homes and loving the one-of-a-kind details and stories these homes would tell.
Once I reached high school, I developed more of an interest to pursue architecture as a career, and after graduating, I began taking several prerequisites for an architecture program at a local community college. After my first year though, I began to realize that although I loved architecture, my love was more for the architecture itself than the actual job.
Video of Chris Toledo and La Casa California on ABC’s LOCALish
When creating my miniature pieces, I always take inspiration from my surroundings. Living in Los Angeles my whole life, I was never a stranger to early 20th century ‘revival’ architecture. From the Spanish/Mediterranean and Tudor revival mansions of the ‘Old Hollywood’ era to the cozy arts and crafts style bungalows, inspiration came from every direction. Living in an age of modernization, I also felt the need to preserve these architectural styles, [and] in some way, [that] fueled my inspiration.”
I hope you like the work of Chris Toledo. I sure do.
Susan Downing, with Patrick Owens
