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
The story goes that the idea for Titania’s Palace occurred on a warm day in the Spring of 1907 when Sir Nevile Wilkinson was sketching in the woods behind his manor, Mount Merrion House. His daughter Guendolen, age 3, played nearby and suddenly cried out that a fairy ran under the roots of a tree. She felt sorry they had to live underground in damp caves and asked her father to have a proper house built for them, which led to the building of Tatiana’s Palace.
(more…)Categories: dollhouses, Great Dollhouses, Victorian
Dominique’s Maison Garfield on the Humpty Dumpty House website
The Humpty Dumpty Dollhouse is a delightful site owned by the French miniaturist Dominique. Her skill in creating miniature items – I especially like her shoes – is amazing. Dominique’s taste in dollhouses goes from the traditional, the Victorian Maison Garfield to the bizarre Voodoo Boat, the Humpty Dumpty Dollhouse and the Harry Potter Dragons, the Asimuthe type. The machine translation from French to English may be a bit clunky. The photography is not. And be sure to check out Dominique’s Tips and Miniatures.
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“When it comes to my work, I pull inspiration from my love of historic architecture and my surroundings,” Chris said. “Having lived in Los Angeles my entire life, I always loved the heavy revival-influenced architecture of the city.
“To ensure complete historical accuracy, I rely on a series of historic books I’ve collected from the early 20th century that outline the designs and building techniques of the period. I like to remind people of a time where architecture was a reigning form of art with my pieces.”
The Lived-In Look
In order to bring his work to life and make the sculptures appear more realistic, Toledo incorporates aspects of “wear and tear” into the rooms, making the interior decor appear aged.
“In real rooms, it’s common to see scuffs along the baseboards, handprints around doorknobs, and cobwebs in the corners of the room. These are the things I love to bring into my miniature pieces.”
What’s Next
Chris’s projects can take anywhere from one month to two years to finish. Chris is constantly thinking about what to do next.
“As a full-time artist,” he says, “before I even finish a project, my mind is already teeming with 100 other projects and when it comes to miniatures … the only limit is your imagination,” Chris Toledo said.
To see more of Chris Toledo’s work, follow these links:
Facebook, Instagram and Chris’s Sales Site
You might also like another post entitled Chris Toledo, Artisan.
Susan Downing, with Patrick Owens
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Categories: artisans
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NOTE
I have extracted the portions of two magazine articles for Dr. Ruth’s Dollhouses, one written by Ellen McCarthy of the Washington Post, the other by Matilda Feder on The Lilith Blog. I encourage you to read both articles in their entirety. Dr. Ruth Westheimer has had such an amazing life–so heartbreaking, and yet so uplifting. Learning more about it in these difficult times has made me feel less anxious. I hope it does the same for you. Links to their articles are below. There is also a link to a video with Chip Reed of CBC which is well worth watching.
Susan Downing
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On June 4, 2019, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, America’s favorite sex therapist, was 91. She lives in a New York apartment teeming with books and photos and honorary degrees.
And dollhouses.
(more…)Categories: collectors
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