I have had a life-long love affair with dollhouse miniatures, and careers in art education and interior design. I hope to combine these life experiences to help other miniature enthusiasts get more out of this wonderful hobby we enjoy, a hobby that often reaches the level of an art form. Susan Downing
Thorne Rooms Tennessee Entrance Hall, 1835, c. 1940, on permanent exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago
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.
Categories: recycled
Mary Payne’s LoBue’s Barbershop
The picture of LoBue’s Barber Shop on my newsfeed caught my eye. The caption “A recreation of Mary’s grand father’s barbershop in Weehawken, NJ.” got my attention because preserving memories by making room boxes has always been the key in my interest in dollhouse miniatures all these years.
I contacted Mary Payne and got this reply:
“I don’t have much of a backstory for it. I never saw that barbershop. The outside was reproduced from a couple of old family pictures. We have no family members left that remember the inside so I used elements from several pictures of old barbershops I found online. If you want to see more of my work go to [our website]. All my work is photographed and posted by my husband. Most of the stores are memorials [of] family and friends who are gone.”
And what a lot of great work it is. Besides the wonderful barbershop room box, check out the rest of Mary’s basement.
Mary Payne’s Basement
I identify with Mary in that memories, and the emotions that flow from them, are the important part of my being a miniature enthusiast. If I can’t make everything myself or don’t have the time to learn to be a renaissance artisan, that’s all right. I’ll buy the wares of other skilled specialists in the dollhouse miniature universe.
Other enthusiasts have the desire to create museum-quality works of art, making all the items themselves. God bless them! I’m glad they have the drive and perseverance to make these wonderful creations. It shows me what can be accomplished and to show the heights craftsmanship it’s possible to reach.
Other room boxes by Mary Payne
Each of the room boxes to the right has a link to an expanded view. Click on the photo. It takes you to Mary’s section of the family webpage.
There is so much latitude in participating in the wonderful hobby .. or art form. Pick your spot on the spectrum. And knowing that we can change that niche whenever we want. Its just time and effort … and some skills.
Susan Downing, with Patrick Owens
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I invite you to visit my Etsy Shop where I offer many accessories and pieces of furniture in 1:12 scale.
Categories: recycled
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Ken Haseltine’s Infinity Hall, a 1/12 scale ”work in progress” found on Flickr
Ken Haseltine is well known for his 1/6 scale work, suitable for the Barbie world. I haven’t been able to find much in the way of biographic information on Ken’s work in this world, so I’m making the assumption that Barbi is where the money is. But Ken works in the 1:12 scale world too. Take some time to enjoy some of these works.
Categories: recycled
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Gottschalk Victorian Blue Roof Dollhouse found on Ruby Lane
It is a huge subject, of course. I thought I would do a series of posts. The best approach seemed to categorize by time period, then by room or object. And I learned from hanging around Dougless Bitler at the Cabbage Patch (way back in the day), that authenticity is critical!
Categories: Victorian
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