Miniature Rooms: The Thorne Rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago

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Generations of visitors to The Art Institute of Chicago have been entranced by the Thorne Miniature Rooms. Painstakingly constructed to a scale of one inch to one foot, their fascinating models recreate 68 European and American interiors from the 16th to the 20th century. The rooms were conceived by Ms. James Ward Thorne, who carefully researched every detail, then had master craftsmen execute the pieces to her exacting specifications. Each room in this charming book is reproduced in color. An introductory text 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 anyone who has ever loved a dollhouse. Other Details: 142 full-color illustrations 168 pages 11 x 11" Published 1984amateur architect of Monticello and the University of Virginia. Benjamin Franklin, who always listed his trade as printer, invented the stove that bears his name and helped write the Constitution. The word "amateur" comes from the Latin amare, to love. An amateur, simply put, is one who pursues an activity for love rather than for money. And love is what Mrs. Thorne lavished upon her work. A member by marriage of an important Chicago family, she devoted many years of her life and considerable portions of her substantial financial resources to the creation of her beloved rooms. What she lacked in formal artistic training she made up for with diligence, aptitude, and a keen sense of mission. It was her passion, combined with a unique confluence of historic and economic opportunities, that made the Thorne Rooms a reality. Born Narcissa Niblack in Vincennes, Indiana, in 1882, she was the daughter of a prominent businessman. Her early schooling was at the hands of a governess. At the age of 11 she was sent to public school and, subsequently, to a private school. Looking back in later years, she commented somewhat wistfully, "The trouble with my childhood was that I was given no education. Knowing how to put my hat on straight was supposed to be enough." True, it was not much of an education by modern standards, but by the standards of the day it was not uncommon. The world was a far smaller and more intimate place at the turn of the century than it is today. London and Paris were the capitals of gracious society; Boston, Washington, and Philadelphia were their American counterparts. Any young lady "of means" was expected to absorb the manners of these places and not pay much attention to anything else. Narcissa Niblack absorbed her lessons well. She accompanied her family on their travels to the East Coast and to Europe. Her sparse education was augmented considerably by tours of castles and fine country homes on both sides of the Atlantic. When her family moved to Chicago, sometime before 1900, she saw even more. In 1901 she married James Ward Thorne, whom she had known since childhood. He was the son of George R. Thorne, co-founder of Montgomery Ward and Company with A. Montgomery Ward. James and his three brothers all worked for the company. A vice-president and director, James retired in 1926 at the age of 53, enabling him to travel extensively with his wife. By the time she married, Narcissa Niblack had achieved all the success to which a young lady of her background could aspire. She was beautiful, gracious, and well-liked. By all accounts, she was delightful company—warm and open-hearted. Her marriage to James Ward Thorne gave her both wealth and social connections. It is no surprise that she quickly became prominent in Chicago society, giving her time to cultural institutions like The Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Historical Society, and to various charities like the Woman's Exchange and several hospitals. The Thornes had two sons, Ward and Niblack. The couple continued to travel, and she continued to indulge in her childhood passion: collecting miniatures. Her son Niblack recalls his mother's explanation of her lifelong fascination with miniatures as a compulsion; when she saw one, she just had to have it. A variety of reasons probably contributed to her love of miniatures. Certainly, dollhouses and toy soldiers were a common feature of childhood in her day. We do know that she was quite fond of dollhouses; in later years she recalled with affection one particular dollhouse with which she had played during her first years in Chicago. We also know that her uncle Rear Admiral Albert P. Niblack sent her miniatures that he picked up in his travels around the world. Many people have similar experiences without going further, but Mrs. Thorne was able to convert this childhood pastime into a lifetime work that would entertain and educate millions. During the 1920s, and especially after Mr. Thorne's retirement, the Thornes spent much time abroad. The world they saw on these trips was quite different from that ... Finding high-quality digital editions shouldn't be a challenge. With instant access to our curated library, you can start your journey with Aftermath immediately. Whether on your phone, tablet, or e-reader, the story of Raleigh's life is presented in a format designed for modern readers.

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