Emily from the Architecture of TinyDistinction blog has posted some reviews of her own
collection of dollshouse related books. When I was commenting on her
post, I realised that I only use a few books about miniatures and I use
books about RL furniture and architecture much more to get a
realistic result.
Please have a look at her blog as her reviews include such wonderful books as Magnificent Miniatures by Mulvany & Rogers.
As we're sort of snowed in, expecting a lot more snow for tomorrow, this seemed a really good way to spend a Saturday afternoon. So here are a few of my
books with a review-of sorts.
Build a Doll's House
by Michal Morse – 1992 ISBN 071346695 2
This is the book I
found at 'de Slegte', a second hand book shop in the Hague. I thought
it was a second hand book, but as I started the build in March 1992
that seems unlikely now. It details a scratch build of a four room
house, a six room house and a roombox with a facade for a shop. There
are four different versions of the four room house. All drawings and
layout plans are included and windows/doors/chimneys etc are sketched
in great detail. All sizes are both in inches and cm. Except for the
lighting, the order in which to build is intuitive and although you
can work ahead on, for instance making the windows, doors or
architraves (yes, everything is scratch built!), it is quite
easy to get back on track. The only criticism I have of the book is
that the lighting should be discussed before you put the walls and
floors together. Also the only method discussed is a tape system
inside the house, which then has wires on the back of the house.
Four stars
Making Miniature
Furniture by John Davenport - 1988 ISBN 071348310 5
This book is all about
how John made his furniture. It is full of information on (now quite
basic) tools, how to modify them, which are essential (no sign of a
table saw, which I now think is absolutely essential) and lots and
lots of drawings. About two thirds of the book is about tools, wood
and wood working skills, such as different types of dovetail joints,
mortice and tenon joint. About one third is left for projects, such
as a basic cabinet with a door and drawer, a collectors cabinet, a
chest of drawers, which includes instructions for veneering/inlay and
a davenport desk. In short anything you would need to make fine
furniture if you were so inclined!
5 stars
Furniture in
Holland's Golden Age by Reinier Baarsen / Rijksmuseum Amsterdam –
2007
ISBN 978 90 8689 014
9
This is part of a
collection of lavishly illustrated publications by the Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam. There are quite a few more including books on painters
Vermeer, Jan Steen, Rembrandt's etchings, 17th century
cabinets, and lots of other things the museum has a collection of.
The photos are great
and there are lots of close-ups. Ideal for figuring out how to
miniaturise something. It also includes the history of the furniture
and it's makers and buyers.
Useful as a reference
for individual pieces.
Four stars
Period Style by
Judith and Martin Miller - paperback 1993 - ISBN 1 85732 301 7
Period Details by
Judith and Martin Miller - paperback 1993 - ISBN 1 85732 043 3
The Style book ranges
from Medieval, through to Georgian, Colonial and American Empire to
Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco. About 90% of the
books consists of stunning photographs. The Style books concentrates
on how to create a period interior can be made within a modern home.
The Details book also includes exteriors, everthing from fire
surrounds, doors and door frames, leaded light windows to light
fittings, to flooring and wallpapers.
A true reference book.
Five stars
There are two other
books I must mention even though they are only available in Dutch:
Het Nederlands
interieur in Beeld van 1600 – 1900 by C. Willemijn Fock, Titus M.
Eliëns, Eloy F. Koldeweij
and Jet Pijzel-Dommisse – 2001 ISBN 90 400 9588 4
Het Hollandse
pronkpoppenhuis by Jet Pijzel-Dommisse – 2001 ISBN 90 400 9481
0
The first book has
absolutely everything there is to tell about interiors in the
Netherlands from 1600 -1900, often based on paintings and drawings
both from museums and private collections, but also books and diaries
and previous publications. It was created by an academic
collaboration between the University of Leiden (Kunsthistorisch
Instituut) and the Rijksdienst voor de Monumentenzorg.
In Het Hollandse
Pronkpoppenhuis book by Jet Pijzel-Dommisse every individual item in
four of the Dutch 17th century dollshouses, has been
photographed and described. It must have taken years to produce books
like these.
If you can read Dutch
and can lift the books (they weigh a ton) they are a must in the
period miniaturists library!
Five stars for both
Other useful books:
Great little things
to make on a small lathe by David Regester – 1995 ISBN 071347613
3
This little book is
only for a beginner trying to master turning without taking classes
in my view. It isn't really about miniatures, but does discuss the
different types of lathes (back then) and the basic skills you need
to get going in a few pages. I suppose practice makes perfect, not
reading the book...
Two stars
Making period Doll's
House Furniture by Derek and Sheila Rowbottom - 1992 ISBN0946819 36
This book is still
useful for the drawings and variety of furniture. Some of it is quite
crude and not the best of woods have been used. It helped me to make
sure that the furniture I made was of the right size, but I haven't
used it since the first 2 years 1992-1994 trying to find my feet. As
I progressed in furniture making, it just wasn't precise enough for
me.
Two stars
Well, that's not really
all of them, but I suppose I'll find out if you agree or not...
Maybe you have some
other books you would like to review for all of us?
Idske
