maviskw

We were in Chicago mid November and went to the Chicago Art Museum. They have a whole section of miniature rooms. There are rooms from many states, countries and many historical periods. I spent a lot of time in there, and would like to go back.

Wintersewer

I agree....I think it is absurd to spend that much on.....nothing........really....... I wonder who placed the value...???..... I am very practical...to each their own.

Rose_P

There are more pictures and much more information on Wikipedia, in case anyone is interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astolat_Dollhouse_Castle I wish I knew more about the woman who created it. The one in Chicago was more of a collection brought together by a Hollywood actress, who could afford to spend her money any way she wanted, and the other famous dollhouse was literally built for a queen, so it's easy to understand where the money came from. Queen Mary was known to visit around the countryside in her quest for unique miniatures, but as far as I know neither she nor Colleen Moore made any of their own minis. The Astolat house is much bigger than either of those, and some of the items in it must have cost a bundle. I'm glad to know it wound up in a museum where many people can enjoy it, and the money collected from visitors helps to justify the dollar value that is placed on it, since a lot of the proceeds are donated to charity.

Found another link with a slideshow: http://creatingdollhouseminiatures.b...ine-diehl.html

maviskw

Thanks, Rose_P. Those are beautiful pictures, but they don't really convey how small those rooms are. In the Chicago Art Museum, the display case is not much more than two feet high. And what I thought was really cool was that you could see into the next rooms or look out the windows and see the courtyard or garden.

Rose_P

The ones at the Art Institute are called the Thorne Rooms, and they are individual room boxes, a collection amassed over many years by Mrs. James Ward Thorne. They are just perfect! Here are some pics: http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections...rk/category/18

Also on display in Chicago is the large Fairy Castle that belonged to Colleen Moore. It can be seen at the Museum of Science and Industry. http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here...s/fairycastle/

I sometimes visit a miniatures forum called "Small Stuff Digest" and it is there that I learned about these magnificent minis. I really should try to see them in person sometime. In about 2002 I bought a rather slummy dollhouse at a garage sale and started renovations. It's not done yet, but I've been tinkering with little things occasionally ever since.

appleblossom

thanks for the link! beautiful! I love doll house!

quilter2theend

That is just totally amazing, kudos to whomever built and furnished it.