Category Archives: room boxes

Posted on 20 April, 2016

dan-ohlmann-maxims-1:12_scale

Dan Ohlmann’s 1:12 scale Maxims Restaurant in Paris, found on MAKE:

Dan Ohlmann, Miniature Artisan

Formerly a cabinetmaker, Dan Ohlmann started creating scale furniture in Paris in 1985. Fascinated with the Art Nouveau style, he built a 1:12 scale model of the world-famous Chez Maxim’s restaurant in Paris. Combining artistic talent and architectural knowledge, this hyperreal piece came as a surprise in France and caught the eye of the media and the general public.

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Posted by Susan Downing

Categories: artisans, dioramas, room boxes


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Posted on 24 March, 2016

tim-hartnell-luxury-hotel-miniature

Tim Hartnell and the 1920s Luxury Hotel

Tim Hartnell Miniaturist

Tim and his wife, Angela Hartnell are the owners of Anglia Dolls Houses, which specializes in creating fully decorated, 1/12th scale miniature works. Their standard designs are early Georgian through the Regency period; commissions are from any period.

1920s Luxury Hotel

A recent project is a replica of a 1920s grand hotel, such as The Ritz or The Hotel de Louvre in Paris. It’s huge, weighing 840 pounds and measuring 6′ wide, 4′ deep, 8′ 6” high. It was shipped to its U.S. buyer in 11 separate crates.

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Posted by Patrick Owens

Categories: Georgian, Regency, room boxes


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Posted on 16 March, 2016

The Miniature Museum of Taiwan

taiwan-miniature-museum-lin-wWee-jen-founder

Lin Wee-jen, founder of the Miniature Museum of Taiwan, found on Taiwan Today

The history of dollhouse miniatures has many collectors who wanted to show their treasures to a wider audience than at an occasional social gathering. Some like Narcissa Niblack Thorne chose to endow a permanent exhibition at a suitable museum. Others created their own museum to reach a wider audience. Lin Wen-jen is such a collector.

The Miniature Museum of Taiwan houses the collection of founder Lin Wen-jen. It is privately run and is Asia’s only museum dedicated to miniature artworks. Before retiring as president of Taiwan Fluorescent Lamp Co. Lin traveled extensively on business and got into the habit of shopping for model cars and toy figurines as gifts for children.

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Posted by Susan Downing

Categories: dollhouses, museums, room boxes


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Posted on 14 March, 2016

narcissa-niblack-thorne

Narcissa Niblack Thorne in her studio, found on Simanaitis Says

She was the wife of James Ward Thorne, son of one of the founders of Montgomery Ward. 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.

In the 1920s, after WorldWar I, the Thornes traveled extensively in Europe.  Thanks to the terrible post-war economy, miniature collections were coming on the market at fire-sale prices.

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Posted by Patrick Owens

Categories: room boxes


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