Vintage Roombox in Miniature

There is a special place in my heart for vintage roomboxes. I found this one in particular on one of my absolute favorite sites called 1st Dibs (www.1stdibs.com) which sells a fantastic selection of art and antiques including old dollhouses and other decorative objects in miniature.

This roombox is from the 19th century and built in the Netherlands. It features an exceptionally delightful kitchen scene with a copper tea pot, a gold-framed landscape painting and what looks like a brass bed warmer hanging from the side wall! I also really love the warm blues and greens this artist used as well as the black and white checkered flooring.

I just look at these pieces and think about how much love, care and attention it took, throughout many years, generations and multiple centuries (!) to keep the it safe and available to be seen, enjoyed and marved at!! This is a testament to miniatures as a valued and appreciated decorative art form meant to survive for the continued delight, excitment and education of those who are fortunate to see it. #obeytheminiature

The Thorne Room Collection

OK, so probably the most incredible array of fine miniatures ever presented in. the. world. are the Thorne Rooms which are a collection of rooms, or roomboxes, featured at the Art Institite of Chicago. They were conceptualized and commissioned by Mrs. James Ward in the 1930's and 1940's and created to depict rooms of specific eras throughout history in 1/12th scale. If you ever get the chance to visit Chicago, it is an amazing treat to see these stunning works of art, design, architecture and history.

I was particularly inspired by the Thorne Rooms when deciding to open my shop because, like the exhibit in Chicago, I really wanted to bring these precious tiny treasures to life and present them in a way which could make people as excited and delighted as I am to be around them.

Soulful Settee

I found this settee at an estate sale...I've always been the "purist" - - the miniature needed to be perfect (scale, technique, materials...)! But I found this piece and all I could think of was how perfectly perfect it is! From the mismatched legs, to the torn and tattered fabric to the imbalanced scale. But I LOVE everything about this settee....it has such soul. I want to believe this piece made someone very very happy one day (for many days!) and it deserves to be cherished and protected and admired for all that is...and not what it isn't.