Vivien Greene (1904–2003)

This is a gorgeous book! All in color, it contains pictures of forty doll houses from the collection of Vivian Greene, who specializes in English doll houses built from 1700-1900. A several pages (2-6) are devoted to each house, and show exteriors and interiors. Information in provided about the exact size of the house, its approximate date, the maker and original owners, if known.

Ms. Greene seems to have done her collecting with a scholar's eye: attempting to preserve and document the original furnishings and decorations. One dilapidated house was repaired, but the repairs are left unpainted so that one can see what is new and what it original. Ms. Greene has sometimes added new items to the houses, but apparently with great concern for authenticity and careful documentation. Ms. Green, incidentally, married the writed Graham Greene.

In her introduction, Margaret Turner pays tribute to the serious amateur who brings to public, and eventually academic attention, cultural items that are considered unimportant, and thus preserves important parts of our cultural heritage.

The boks includes short essays on the history of doll houses and their furniture. It also includes a glossary and bibliography.

Another book by a major collector, Flora Gill Jacobs of the Washington Doll's House and Toy Museum (Washington, DC, USA) is The Small World of Antique Dolls' Houses: Six Decades of Collecting Mansions, Cottages, Shops, Stables, Theaters, Churches- -Even a Zoo!… (plus d'informations)