QUEEN 'MARY'S DOLL’S HOUSE.

Otaki Mail, 17 September 1923, Page 4

QUEEN 'MARY'S DOLL’S HOUSE.

A MINIATURE MANSION. EXQUISITE DECORATIONS. Models in miniature have a fascination for most' people, anil certainly the skilful craftsmanship displayed in many of these productions is worthy of high admiration. Possibly the most wonderful and elaborate model ever , devised Is tlie “doll’s house’’ designed for Queen Mary by Sir Edwin Eutyens the' celebrated architect. The scheme of the little mansion has greatly enlarged since Sir Edwin first planned it. With its gardens, garage, and power house, it covers a ground space of 12 fevt by 7 feet. Not only has if been furnished with every article that a real house of the grandest kind lias, but | it. bus /water and electricity e;nd a a drainage' system laid on. It is built Tii | the style of Wren’s Hampton Court, u | building of red brick and white stone, J set in a garden of smooth velvet turf, j clipped yew edges, and green bay trees I with tuny paved paths and statues in J odd, out-of-the-way • corners. Inside, j wonder is piled upon wonder. Out of , the domed entrance hall leads a stair- j way fashioned in marble and lapis j lazuli, and everywhere there is exquis- i ito decorative carving, the details of . which under a magnifying glass, are * revealed as perfect. Even the locks 1 and keys are of special design, and the j wrought ironwork of the gates arc of i the manner of Jean Tijou. There are J wonderful ceilings painted by Mr. Wil- j liant Nicholson, and in the library are i two full-length portraits of the Ring- | and Queen, each of seven inches, paint- j cd by Sir William Orpen. The library, ■ perhaps is the most a mazing achievement of all. in 'it will be represented every British author of note; row upon row of tiny volumes, beautifully bound, every word of which may be read through the magnifying glass. The collection of drawings will be representative of the best art in the period, each one specially executed in miniature. There arc mantlepicces of marble, inlaid with jade, furniture, every piece of which is a work of art, specially made Wilton carpets, bed and table linen made in Belfast and the suuie kind as that supplied to the King, reproductions of famous old prints, no bigger than a postage stamp, and everywhere silk-lined walls and panellings of beautifully carved wood. In the music room is a grand piano, seven inches long, that plays if there are lingers light enough to touch each separate note, and in the gun room are models by a famous gunsmith. There arc engraved ste'el grates, the workman- * ship of which is as line us any chasing ever done in silver and gold. The kitchens are completely equipped with 1 every imaginable utensil. The building I is lighted throughout bv electricity rcJ gulated by tiny switches in every i- room, served by electric jlifts. The i dynamo which supplies the power is ! housed outside, close to the miniature garage, which contains a Rolls-Royce, a Sunbeam and a Daimler, all perfect models made to work. The model is designed for exhibition at the great British Empire Exhibition at Wembley Park. A charge of Is will be made for inspection, and the money will go to the London hospitals. Later it may go on tour and Now Zealanders may have an opportunity of seeing if.