Whilst the miniature version of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry takes centre stage at the recent New Zealand Miniatures Convention and Exhibition in Auckland, there’s a certain fascination that is spawned from perusing dollhouses and miniatures. Is it the fact one can freely look through windows without being labeled a voyeur? Or is it admiration for the patience and commitment required to get these large scale works to completion?
History of Dollhouses
Most young people associate dollhouses either with Ken and Barbie or with the traditional Victorian style dollhouses of old. The earliest dolls houses were hand made and belonged to early 16th century European royalty. After World War II, dolls houses started to be mass produced and so became more affordable.
Today, dollhouses remain a favorite plaything with children around the world. For adults, creating dollhouses with period details has become a popular hobby.
Traditional Dollhouses
Centennial Street was one of my favorite exhibits at the Auckland Museum when I was growing up. It’s a life size replica of a typical Auckland Street from 1866. I loved looking through the glass at the haberdashery, the bar, the apothecary, the barber, the sweets store, the stationers, the Victorian-era bedroom etc.
One gets a similar sense of discovery from looking through the windows of traditional dolls houses. Traditional dollhouses are usually decorated in either Victorian, Georgian or Tudor styles. Victorian is popular because rooms were large with decorative furniture. During the Victorian period, people filled their houses with plenty of items because it increased the appearance of wealth. This makes Victorian dollhouses especially attractive to look at because the rooms are often filled with plenty of items to admire.
Toothbrushes, toothpaste, cutlery, dinner sets, babies’ bottles, vases, mirrors. These things in themselves aren’t anything special but it’s amazing how much more fascinating they become when they are one twelfth of the size.
Miniatures
This year’s miniatures theme was movies. Aside from Hogwarts castle, other miniatures included a movie theatre, Bag End complete with round windows from The Lord of the Rings, a miniature make-up and costume room, and a Willie Wonka candy store. Strangely, seeing the detail in miniature does make one want to return home immediately, to either watch the movies or read the books again in order to marvel at the accuracy of the miniature makers.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Like the yummiest things on a dinner plate, I leave the best until last. I’m afraid that if I look first at Jean Blanc’s 17-roomed miniature version of Hogwarts Castle, everything else in this miniatures exhibition will pale dismally in comparison. Having taken over two years to complete, the attention to detail is compelling. It’s a must-see for Harry Potter fans.
Mouth-watering desserts fill a table in the kitchen whilst Dobby does the dishes. Nearby, another house elf stirs the contents of a giant cauldron. Gothic style candles light Myrtle’s bathroom as she hovers possessively over one of the cubicles. The Divinations classroom is complete with round tables and crystal balls whilst tea cups used for reading tea leaves are displayed in the china cabinet. Other rooms include Ron and Harry’s bedroom, The Great Hall, the library, Professor McGonagall’s office and Professor Snape’s potion class.
Dolls Houses and Miniatures
A visit to any dollhouse and miniatures exhibition will leave one with a new found admiration for this painstakingly detailed hobby, that is embraced by thousands of enthusiasts the world over.
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