Dollhouse Decorating

Miniature Decorating Ideas |Articles on decorating dollhouses and the history of this artform

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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

Posted on 17 March, 2016

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Spencer House Painted Room – Kathleen Savage Browning collection at the Kentucky Gateway Museum.

The Spencer House Dolls House

The Spencer House dollhouse is the result of the same three elements that have brought about many of the miniature world’s great works. First, there must be a patron, someone willing to acquire funds and inspire artisans to achieve great things. Second, those artisans must be the best in their field. Last, it doesn’t hurt to have an important building as the inspiration, one that has a long history, yet is relevant to the times. Spenser House dollhouse has all three of these elements.

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Posted by Patrick Owens

Categories: Great Dollhouses


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Posted on 16 March, 2016

The Miniature Museum of Taiwan

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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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Posted on 11 March, 2016

tasha-udor-tIrmin-rug

The Tasha Tudor Dollhouse study, found on “Mrs. Rabe’s trip to Williamsburg”

Tasha Tudor’s Dollhouse

The dollhouse you see on exhibit at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum at Williamsburg is not the real one. The original was more like room boxes built into the walls of her home in Marlboro, Vermont.  Tudor’s “dollhouse” in Corgi Cottage, came to the attention of curators at Colonial Williamsburg in 1996. They offered to build a ¼ scale replica, complete with miniature goat barn and greenhouse.

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Posted by Patrick Owens

Categories: accessorizing, amazing miniatures, room boxes


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