Sold: Miniature Home

Miniature folk art house, North Shore Massachusetts, c. 1910s. At only 19 inches tall and 18 inches wide, this is by far the most detailed and painstaking homemade architectural model I’ve found. The gabled home has wooden clapboard siding — each clapboard individually applied with tiny nails — and a painted tin roof, also realistically rendered. However, it’s the fine and thoughtful architectural details that made this miniature dwelling exceptional. Take the front door alone: The rails and mullions are precisely chamfered, and while the top panel is glazed, the lower panel is decorated with a raised diamond motif. Likewise, the pierced and chamfered posts on the porch were crafted with exquisite care, as were the decorative brackets and other fretwork. The glass windows of the house are backed with paper and lace curtains, concealing an empty interior which was possibly electrified at one time. One of the cut pieces of paper has the year 1913 printed on it and provides a clue to the little house’s age. The miniature home was abandoned in an attic for nearly a century, and while it gathered dust it remained remarkably intact, with little wear besides some chippy paint. Almost certainly designed after an existing structure — which could very well be gone itself — this miniature house is not only a remarkable piece of a folk art, but also a charming example of vernacular architectural design.

Condition

Very good condition, with aged surface from dust and dirt, chipping paint on the roof, a few minor broken or missing details (such as one of the two roof finials), but overall in a remarkable state of preservation.

Measurements

18 inches wide

16 inches deep

19 inches tall

Shipping

Free in the continental United States. If an international buyer, please contact me for a shipping estimate by clicking here.