Queen Mary's Dolls' House

by Mary Stewart-Wilson, David Cripps (Photographer)

A lavishly illustrated introduction to a British national treasure examines the highly detailed articles of Queen Mary's dolls' house, providing blueprint diagrams of every floor, content lists for each wing, and more.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Art

192 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 1988

Reviews

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Photographs of an amazing dollhouse made years ago.

I always wanted a dollhouse when I was little, and never had one, so this was very cool to look through.

Everything in the dollhouse is so realistic (the fully stocked wine cellar has real wine in the bottles, the bookcases have printed books, the linen closets contain extra blankets), and so believable that my Mom, when flipping through the pages, thought that it was photos of a full-sized house.

[Aimee Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great pictures and information. If you can’t make it to Windsor Castle to see the real thing, this book is an excellent substitute.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 3 out of 5]

People in the 1920s really loved miniatures, I guess; this was also the decade of Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle. Queen Mary's Dolls' House was more realistic, and assembled by donation rather than paid for. (Hmm.) The detail is incredible, and it is a time capsule of how royal houses were run in the late Edwardian era-the 1920s. The photographs are good quality and provide lots of detail, but I did wish for more angles on some rooms. The photographer favored close-ups of objects rather than furniture or scenes. It would have been nice to get a closer look at the art, but the linens are well-represented and I do enjoy that! An interesting read for a miniatures aficianado.

[Kathleen Brandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely gorgeous book--a doll house that would make any girl swoon!

[Mary Warnement · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Xmas gift from my mom, so I was inclined to like it for that alone. It also reminded me of the three doll's houses I received on diff Xmases as a child. The description in this is interesting, but the real star are the photographs. This book is from the 1980s, and there are more recent ones, but this one delighted me. The large images showing whole rooms as well as the close-ups of particular tiny items. Delightful. I wish they'd shown a picture to show how the garage and garden drawers at the base work. That description didn't quite do it for me. I guess I'll have to travel to Windsor Castle and see the actual thing. It did its job of making me want more, making me want to see the actual object. No matter how good the facsimile, the real thing is worth it.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House offers a fascinating glimpse into what is surely one of the greatest dolls’ houses in the world. While features like electricity and running water may seem ordinary today, they were truly extraordinary at the time of its creation. Even more remarkable are the furnishings—crafted with a level of detail and artistry that rivals, and in some cases surpasses, what you might see in museums, let alone in miniature.

I purchased this book immediately after viewing the house in person at Windsor Castle, wanting to capture and remember the intricate details of royal life it so beautifully reflects. The experience inspired me to take a fresh look at my own childhood dollhouse, with hopes of reinventing it for my enjoyment as an adult.

[Jessica Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing peek into one of the world's premier doll's houses. If you're a fan of miniatures, I highly recommend!

[Ambur Taft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to see this, in person. Great pictures and history of the detail put into this wonder....the kitchen and library are amazing.

[Belle Meade School]

745.5923