Category Archives: amazing miniatures

Posted on 22 September, 2019

Werner-Marestra-Domus-Project

Werner Marestra and the Domus Project

Domus Project

Werner Marestra got the idea to create a replica of a noble Genoese house of the late 18th century, and the Domus Project was born. It is built in 1:50 scale (approx. 1/4 scale), but is not really a dollhouse. It is an architectural model, built of real materials or their surrogates. More unusual for a model, Werner’s construction methods are those used by medieval craftsmen.

After Werner spent months of research and study, the work began in July 2009, at his home in Granada, Spain. “It’s a little ‘far from the city of origin,” he says. “But in the end, even Columbus came here to ask for the ships to sail to India.”

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Posted by Susan Downing

Categories: amazing miniatures, artisans


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Posted on 19 September, 2019

riggs-dolls-house-exterior

The exterior of the Riggs Dolls House found on the Homes & History Magpie

Riggs Dolls’ House

Two lucky little girls received this dolls’ house as a gift from their father, a London stockbroker, during the 1840s. There was a great fashion for dolls’ houses at this time, but even by the standards of its day, it would have been an impressive piece. Designed as an expensive gift for the girls, it was also  a way of displaying the family’s wealth and

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Posted by Patrick Owens

Categories: amazing miniatures, dollhouses


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Posted on 17 September, 2019

anonymous-artisans-folk-art-museum

Anonymous Artisans work in a folk art museum in Hillsborough, NC

Folk Art: Just For The Fun Of It

I sometimes get hung-up on museum-quality miniatures, as if those exalted works are the only things to strive for. My apologies to all of the talented artisans in the dollhouse miniature universe who are creating incredible works. Not all fascinating work has to be in 1:12 scale, either. Folk art is an example. A private collection in Hillsborough, North Carolina has many beautiful works, made by craftsmen who wanted to memorialize a building that had meaning in their lives.

This post links to four sites: that folk art museum in NC, and three of my favorite artisans that who wonderful work … just for the fun of it.

Enjoy.

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Posted by Patrick Owens

Categories: amazing miniatures, folk art


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Posted on 07 September, 2019

spanish-mansion-dollhouse-french--doors-open

The Spanish Mansion Dollhouse, French doors open.

Spanish Mansion Dollhouse

The Spanish Mansion dollhouse was made in the late 19th century. It is 4 1/2 feet tall and features a facade with 12 French doors that open to reveal three stories of elaborately furnished rooms. They including a nursery, gentleman’s study, lady’s sitting room, and private chapel — a status symbol for wealthy Spanish families. Carolyn Netter Sunstein added the Spanish Mansion dollhouse to her collection in 1983, paying $20,000.

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Posted by Susan Downing

Categories: amazing miniatures, Great Dollhouses


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