Do you know the difference between a dollhouse and a miniature? The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures is the best place to find out the answer. From gigantic to modest, from extravagant to simple, this museum has many galleries that show how people are fascinated with anything tiny. Beyond toys for children dollhouses were used to instill lessons about domestic life, moral behavior, and social expectations. They were used as examples to instruct how children should behave.
Miniatures, on the other hand, were made not to be played with but to be displayed and admired. Craftspeople, depending on budget, have built an array of constructions that reflect fun pastimes to complex luxurious obsessions. Some miniatures differentiate between being historically accurate in recreating rooms and buildings found throughout history, while other creations are physical manifestations of personal dreams and fantasies.
It was really fun to spot a hand carved Noah's ark by family friends Mo and Kelly Dallas. They had met my mother years ago and we were able to learn about their business in creating and reinterpreting the tradition of Sunday school toy arks that were playful as well as didactic.
Whether creating dollhouses or miniatures, artisans or hobbyists direct viewers to see small and think big. The immensely popular past-time of depicting life in miniature demonstrates the enormous curiosity and passion people have for such a remarkable topic.
Continuing with series of blogs about London, this week I get to share about an art museum I had learned about while working and teaching at The Frick Collection. Situated by Manchester Square in London, The Wallace Collection is housed inside of Hertford House, the former townhouse of the Seymour family. The Wallace is comprised of an extraordinary art collection that was formerly a private residence, which makes it similar to the Frick. Additionally, the Wallace contains similar artists and art periods that are also shown at the Frick. Overall, the Wallace was different in the number of art pieces within its collection (there seemed to have been more), and the positioning of artworks. Differences and similarities aside, the collection on view is remarkable and stunning.
The collection contained many old masters, French porcelain by Sèvres, delicate and salacious painted miniatures, beautiful furniture, and elaborately decorated rooms. My personal favorite was Fragonard's rococo masterpiece, The Swing (pictured below).
Art collections that are available to the public for free, such as the Wallace, not only demonstrate how a limited number of people use to live in the past, but also share an unlimited wealth of art history and cultural artistry. It was real dream come true to be able to step inside the Wallace and I hope someday to return.
