This item has been on display in the world renowned House of
Broel Dollhouse Museum that is a wonderland of intricate treasures that have to
be seen to be believed. It is a very fine piece that is in excellent condition because
after its creation it has only been on display and never handled. A description
will follow from the designer and collector, Bonnie Broel.
From The House of Broel Collection
After building my first dollhouse from a kit I realized how
much time, expense and effort went into finishing and furnishing it, so I
decided that if I were going to do more they would have to be of a high
quality. Since I was a newcomer to the dollhouse world I did some research –
long before the internet and discovered that the highest quality dollhouses were
built by The Lawbre Company. I decided that I wanted nothing but the best in my
collection. That’s why I bought from the best and furnished with the best!!
In the 1980’s The Lawbre Company came out with a magnificent
limited edition dollhouse – only 25 were to be built and I just had to have one
to add to my growing collection. They called it “Old Westbury Hall” but as I
worked on the interior and found the furnishings and occupants I decided that
it would be my “English Hunting Lodge”. The house had an amazingly detailed
exterior but was unfinished on the inside. I began adding appropriate
wallpaper, furnishings and lighting but I felt the floors on the first floor
needed to be finished finer than what I could do – so I contacted the Lawbre
Company to make inlaid and parquet floors for each of the rooms and they are
exquisite. Even though I added oriental carpets the intricate woodwork can
still be seen and admired.
The front of the house has exquisite detail and in every
respect characterizes the English Tudor style. The variety of colors and
textures recreate a most picturesque period. Notice the bay window on the
second floor above the front door and the colorful stained glass windows on the
left. On the far right is the kitchen. To give a homey quality to the façade I
added plants, trees, a sundial, a pond and a fountain. I also added a whimsical
incredibly life like pony cart. The cart itself is signed Cheryl Abelson 5/84
and the pony is initialed JG 84. The animal even feels real and the accessories
are all leather. The pony cart is just waiting for the boys of the house to
come take a ride.
Also on the front there is a brass plaque that says:
“Old Westbury Hall”
Constructed for
House of Broel
During 8-83 number
7/25
Designed and
Decorated by D.L. McNeil
The Lawbre Company
Mundelin Illinois
On the right hand side of the house I added a two-tiered
pond with a waterfall filled with fish set in the middle of a rock garden with
lilies of the valley in the front and stalks of hollyhocks and other tall English
country garden flowers in the rear.
On the left hand side of the house I added a round brick
edged garden with a fountain, a large tree, and a decorative brick wall flanked
by smaller trees with a colorful hanging plant in the center
The room on the left of the first floor is a dining room
that has a whole pig and hand painted ceramic rust and ivory dishes on the
table. On either side of the door going into the kitchen are two signed
engravings. The table, chairs and sideboard are all Thorne Room reproductions
made in Taiwan.
The floor is inlaid walnut by The Lawbre Company. Next, in the entry way the
Lord of the Lodge greats a visiting African King who presents the head of the
house with a ceremonial sword. The middle room has colorful stained glass
windows and interesting tri-cornered chairs and desk (more Thorne Room
reproductions) accented by a gracious Edwardian lady. On the far right there is
a handsome man standing in the library that is decorated with tapestries and
signed hand painted English scenes.
On the left hand side of the second floor the hunting room
features duck decoys, a large marble fireplace, riding boots, a display of
knives, a mount of a deer, a bear rug and most importantly, the hunter with his
grouse. Next, the gaming room has a six sided pool table in the center
that is complete with pretzels and beer. To the rear of the room in the
bay window a whale oil lamp sits on a table with jade bears on either side.
There is also a drugstore Indian sitting on the left hand side of the space
with a portly gambler looking on. The music room is next with a baby grand
piano, and a George Becker harp and chair. The hallway features equestrian
scenes and the blue and ivory bedroom on the far right boasts a version of King
Henry VIII of England’s
bed. A mother boxer sits in front of the fireplace with her puppies and
Sherlock Holmes stands by the fireplace looking for clues. The oil painting is
a miniature reproduction of a masterpiece.
The boy’s bedroom is on the far left of the third floor. It
is complete with the two boys, their wooden train, desk and their bunk beds.
Even the Teddy bear is dressed like Sherlock Holmes. The next room is the Fox
Hunt Room with hunt scenes on the walls, a luxurious leather sofa, a fox hunter
in his red and black riding habit and an English maid dusting. In the hall
there is a desk, a grandfather clock, a lamp on a table and a Dalmatian on the
floor. The room on the far right of the third floor has wonderful Throne Room
reproductions in it but the most interesting piece is a linen press in the rear
of the room that I bought from the artist and it is signed on the back.
The kitchen is located on the first floor and is on the far
right of the front of the house. There are numerous copper pots and pans
hanging from the rack and many delectable foods on the table. Sacks of foods
are on the floor and the brick oven fireplace boasts even more foods and
accessories including a rack of corn drying on the front.
This is an amazingly exquisite limited edition dollhouse
that will be a magnificent addition to any collection.
Width – House only 61 in. with side yards 80 in.
Height – 37.5 in.
Depth – 29 in.
Weight – 175 lbs.
