Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle refurbished




Watch a Time-Lapse viseo of an $8 Million Dollhouse Being Put Back Together

From Mental Floss

The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago recently completed a 9-month conservation of its Fairy Castle, an elaborate dollhouse created by silent film star Colleen Moore and donated to the museum in 1949.

The Fairy Castle was built with a plumbing and electrical system—the bathtubs have real running water, the chandeliers light—and filled with collected and custom made exquisite objects, like tiny gold plates and crystal glasses, miniature needlepoint tapestries, the smallest Bible in the world, actual Ancient Egyptian mini-statues, and a sliver of the true cross, given to Moore’s friend Clare Boothe Luce by the Pope. The castle cost $500,000 to create in 1935, equivalent to over $8 million in today’s dollars.

Above, you can watch a time-lapse video of the castle being put back together by the conservation team. It shows the objects being placed back into the rooms in accordance with the original intention: to give the impression “that a fairy had been there but left just moments ago.”

For more about Moore’s Fairy Castle, visit The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago.

7 comments:

  1. What a fantastic building. I loved watching the time lapse video - gives you a sense of how many individual pieces make up the whole thing. Thanks for posting =0)

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    1. Colleen More loved dollhouses and this was her life's work. I would love to see it in person.

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  2. Hello Shale,
    Thank you for sharing this great video. the castle is superb!
    big hug,
    Giac

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    1. Isn't it lovely? Your wonderful manor will rival it when you are done.

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  3. I cant believe I didn't have the chance to visit this exhibit when I went to the Tom Bishop show last year. I am on a mission to see it next time!

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    1. I was in Chicago last year and I saw the Thorne Rooms but not this castle. It's on my list for next time. Maybe I'll see you there too. lol

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  4. Amazing video! I hope to someday visit and see this in person. :)

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