I was fascinated by The Thorne Miniature Rooms at The Art Institute of Chicago. To imagine, a wealthy socialite’s hobby is “miniature objects of decorative art” as quoted in the exhibit’s pamphlet. As I exited, entranced by the exhibit, I thought of Mrs. James Ward Thorne as a person who was fortunate to have had the resources to indulge in a hobby as grand as creating miniature versions of period rooms. She worked with a selective group of artists/designers to reproduce period furniture and objects d’arts in miniature form, actually used same materials as the life-sized pieces. Otherwise, we would not have the delightful experience of viewing the elaborate details of the miniature rooms.

REGENCY PERIOD: ENGLISH ROTUNDA/LIBRARY