If you follow me on Instagram, you’re already familiar with this story. But heck, it’s so great that I have to share it with you here!
I had a list of errands yesterday and I planned on starting the ‘loop’ with a visit to one of my favorite antique emporiums to see if they had any vintage ornaments left; not that I really need any, it was just an excuse to visit. Then I’d tackle the bookstore and Michael’s and return home.
One of the first things I saw was an amazing tramp art house. Handmade, of course, and simply fascinating. It wasn’t practical for me and it was expensive – though, as a one-of-a kind piece of folk art, it was worth the price. You can see a photo of it on my IG feed. As I headed in and out of booths on the first aisle, I looked up – something I often forget to do – and saw this:
What???
Half off? Half off of an already ridiculously inexpensive price?
I continued on my perusal of the booths, my thoughts going back to the dollhouse, posting a photo on IG asking if I should buy it, heading back, looking at it again, walking around some more – you get the picture.
It was perched very high up on a ladder that had been placed horizontally to form a shelf. In the meantime, messages kept coming in from my initial post on IG basically in the form of “Get it!” “Are you nuts? Get it NOW!”
Finally, I asked one of the ladies at the counter if it was possible to get it down because I was very interested and wanted to see inside. She had to haul out a tall ladder and, as I expressed worry that it might fall on her, a man who happened to be walking by volunteered to help. We finally managed to set it on a counter.
Frankly, I expected it to be one big room, an empty space. This is what I saw:
Are you kidding me? This is exactly what we had in the Craftsman house we rented when we were living in San Diego.
There are two small rooms as well. Doors that open and shut beautifully. Shutters that work.
Arched doorways that frame the entrance into the two rooms from the living room.
A front porch.
It’s solid as a rock. Whoever made this knew what he/she was doing and it’s beautifully made. It’s very old – I’d guess it was made in the early decades of the twentieth century.
Needless to say, I bought it. It’s big – bigger than it looked when it was perched way up high – about 22 inches wide and about 15 inches deep.
It wouldn’t fit in the trunk. I couldn’t maneuver it into the back seat. (Dad, I’m so grateful that I have the use of your car, but this is about the millionth time I’ve wished you had gone for four doors instead of two.) After a wee bit of panic, I managed to get it on the passenger seat, with the seat back reclining at a sharp angle. I had to turn it on its side. As I drove home, I kept holding onto it so it wouldn’t bump against the gear shift.
I brought it home and immediately created this little scene on the porch. The ‘snow’ is flannel from my stash. The trees and wreaths are from my stash.
I’m in love.
Someone made this for a loved one: a daughter, a grandchild, a niece or nephew. It killed me to think of it sitting there, marked down, when at one point someone played with it and loved it. So much love was put into this dollhouse. It needed to be rescued.
Do I have the room for it? No. But I’ve already thought about putting it on top of the china cabinet in the den or on a table in the living room next to the big white armoire. Right now, I have it on the blue bench that sits there, but I’d like it on something that’s offers more support. It’s big and heavy and solid as a rock and I don’t want it crashing to the floor.
Everyone keeps saying, “I can’t wait to see what you do to it.” But the truth is, I’m not going to do much. This is someone’s creation – hours of work were put into making it. It’s a piece of folk art. I’ll give it a gentle cleaning, of course. But Don and I have already decided it’s going to be a summer home or cabin – rustic in nature. I don’t want to transform it in any way other than with furniture and accessories. The basic structure will remain the same. It seems a sacrilege to change its natural beauty. I have such admiration for the person who built this. I want to be its caretaker and honor it.
Since Don found out yesterday that one of the presents he ordered for me is in China, of all places, and hasn’t even left the country (he thought it was shipping from Arizona.) He was very upset. I suggested that this could be a present from him. I texted a photo of it and he immediately said yes! I know he was relieved.
It’s currently perched right here by the entrance to the den.
I had to add some lights, of course! It’s the holiday season.
To say I’m thrilled would be an understatement. When things get put away after Christmas and I have more space, I’ll take better photos. Right now, every available surface is in use.
As I am constantly reminded, timing is everything.
Interesting side note: the dealer that I love (the one I got the egg cup cubby from) has a booth in this shop. She commented on my IG post, saying that she had had her eye on it! Looks like I got there just in time!
Happy Friday.
