An ecstatic Mulvaney & Rogers customer taking possession of her commissioned dollhouse.

Mulvany & Rogers

This is one of my favorite images in the miniature universe, an ecstatic customer taking possession of her commissioned (bespoke) dollhouse. Mulvany & Rogers have lots of satisfied customers, but getting such photographic proof is a rare thing.

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Miniature Room No. 5, the Montmorenci Stair Hall, in an Ileana Ottini video

 Henry Kupjack, miniaturist, dead at 67

The son of famed miniaturist Eugene Kupjack, Henry Kupjack died of a suspected heart attack Monday, February 18th at his home in Chicago.  Henry was a master artisan in his own right, creating over 600 miniature rooms, either by himself or in collaboration with his father. Eugene Kupjack was the principal artisans on The Thorne Rooms – one of the most popular attractions at the Art Institute of Chicago. Henry’s work can also be seen in museums and private collections worldwide.

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Mulvany & Roger’s Royal Pavilion Dolls House

The Royal Pavilion at Brighton

The Doomsday Book 

In the year 1085, William the Conqueror wondered what many rulers through history had pondered. “How much is my realm worth?” The King ordered a survey be taken and whatever numbers were put in the ledger, that was final, just as if it were Judgement Day. Hence the name – Doomsday Book.

I have had a problem finding photographs of the Royal Pavilion dolls house interiors. The photos and drawings in this post are of real rooms. However, with Mulvany and Rogers’ reputation for accuracy, I feel confident these photographs give a good representation of what the dollhouse may look like.

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Thorne Rooms Tennessee Entrance Hall, 1835, c. 1940, on permanent exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago

The Thorne Rooms

Narcissa Niblack Thorne, the wife of James Ward Thorne, son of one of the founders of Montgomery Ward, commissioned this group of exquisite room box. Her interest in miniatures began early and was encouraged by trinkets sent to her by her uncle, a Rear Admiral in the US Navy. This passion continued into her adult life.

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