Miniature rooms : the Thorne rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago
by Fannia Weingartner
On This Page
Description
"Generations of visitors to the Art Institute of Chicago have been entranced by the Thorne Rooms. Painstakingly constructed on a scale of one inch to one foot, these intriguing models offer intricately detailed views of European interiors from the 16th century through the 1930s and of American furnishings from the 17th century to 1940. The sixty-eight miniature rooms were conceived by Chicago socialite Mrs. James Ward Thorne and made between 1934 and 1940 by a number of skilled craftsmen show more according to her exacting specifications. Many of the rooms were inspired by specific interiors in historic houses or by museum installations or period rooms. Others combine features copied from various houses, palaces, and sites Mrs. Thorne visited during her extensive travels." "In this newly designed and revised edition of one of the Art Institute's most popular books, each room is shown in full view, including eight two-page spreads that immerse the reader in several of the interiors. Full-color details provide a closer view of specific objects mentioned in the text, and a number of Mrs. Thorne's original drawings are reproduced to actual scale. The introductory essay chronicles Mrs. Thorne's creation of the rooms, while individual commentaries provide information about each interior. This is a volume that will prove irresistible to collectors, miniaturists, architects, historians, interior designers, and the general public alike."--Jacket. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
One of the things you can do if you are really, really rich is to indulge a passion. Fortunately for many Chicago-area children (not to mention adults), Mrs. James Ward Thorne had a passion for miniature interiors, as well as money. After years of collecting miniatures, she conceived the idea of creating miniature rooms, depicting real and imagined rooms from a variety of countries and eras. And then, in 1940, she donated them to the Art Institute of Chicago (which, outrageously, sold some of them, which ultimately landed in Phoeniz, AZ and Knoxville, TN).
This book contains photographs and detailed descriptions of the rooms at the AIOC.
This book contains photographs and detailed descriptions of the rooms at the AIOC.
Postcards of selected Thorne Rooms, bound into a book.Purchased during brief layover delivering Aged Parents to Chicago to catch train to Nebraska (before catching the MegaBus back to Ann Arbor)
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
9 Works 356 Members
All Editions
Some Editions
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Miniature rooms : the Thorne rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago
- Original publication date
- 2004
- Important places
- Chicago, Illinois, USA; Art Institute (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
Classifications
- Genres
- Art & Design, Nonfiction, Home & Garden, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 747.0228 — Arts & recreation Drawing & decorative arts Interior design / Glassware / Furniture Interior Design Around the World Miniature Interior Design
- LCC
- NK2117 .M54 .A7 — Fine Arts 3600-(9990) Other arts and art industries Decorative arts Interior decoration. House decoration General. History, etc.
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 331
- Popularity
- 95,570
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.07)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 6
- UPCs
- 1
