In a special wing of the Chicago Institute of Art there is a wonderful exhibit, featuring tiny rooms. These rooms were built with an amazing amount of patience, for years, to faithfully represent the interior decor you would find in different states in Europe and the US in different times in history, from the 13th century to the end of the 19th.
Narcissa Niblack Thorne was a native of Indiana who started to collect miniature furniture during her voyages in Europe and the far oriental in the 1930s. She drew inspiration from museums, consulted with artists and historic experts, and began to make these miniature restorations of the internal design of each period. During her lifetime, she had completed almost 100 rooms! Here is a fine selection of her wonderful works. |
Dining Room, New Mexico, 1940 |
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Living room in Cape Cod, 1750-1850 |
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Lounge in Rode Island, 1820 |
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Dining Room in Massachusetts, 1795 |
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Entry Hall in Tennessee, 1835 |
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German Living Room Biedermeier style, 1815-1850 |
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Woman's bedroom, Louie the 15th, 1740-1760 |
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English Room, Late Tudor, 1550-1603 |
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Kitchen in Virginia, 18th Century |
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Dining Room in Virginia, 1800 |
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Drawing Room in Virginia, 1754 |
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Dining Room in Maryland, 1770-1774 |
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Peasant Living Room, 1800 |
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Lounge in New York, 1850-1870 |
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Drawing Room in Pennsylvania, 1834-1836 |
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Bedroom in New England, 1750-1850 |
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