Welcome to the Doll House

Jacob Appel, The doll's house of Petronella Oortman, c. 1710

 At first glance, Jacob Appel's 1710 painting appears to be a cross-section of a busy household.  A maid tends to a child on leading strings in the hallway, men are playing boardgames while a couple talk in a parlor, a woman warms her feet in the kitchen.  Overall, it is a very active painting.  However, there is something a little strange about the house: it has legs. No, it isn't a portrayal of a Russian fairytale, Appel was merely bringing life to a doll house.  He was so determined to show all the amazing details of the house that he chose to incorrectly render the perspective.  The result is a fascinating window into Dutch home-life of the time.

Doll houses weren't meant to be toys for the children; you would find them in the possession of wealthy women.  A hobby to show off to friends, women could accessorize their houses like they could accessorize their closet.   The doll house was more of cabinet, with curtains or windowpanes to draw aside.  From the outside they would look like a regular furniture piece rather than a miniature home as our contemporary tend to. 

Perhaps the best part about the painting is that the actual doll house still exists and is safely housed in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.  The house, or cabinet, is so large, museum visitors use a step stool to examine all those delightful details that Appel was determined to portray.  Because both the painting and house have survived the passage of time we can see the various changes made to the house since the creation of the painting.  You can see them for yourself in person or (the easier option) through a virtual tour of the house thanks to the Rijksmuseum here.

New Furniture for your Estate

Looking for new decor for a drab flat? Well I'm not, but somehow I still stumbled upon the furniture section on Urban Outfitters' site. They have some great selections for your modern eighteenth century abode.

Antoinette Fainting Sofa

Damask Headboard

Tufted Headboard

Wall-Mounted Jewelery Board

Damsel Wallpaper

Gypsy Chandelier


And don't forget to show your patriotism with this tapestry!