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OVERALL DESCRIPTION: The Dollhouse Castle is owned by Dr. Michael Freeman and his wife Lois Freeman and is currently on loan to the Nassau Museum of Art Tee Ridder Division. It is an incredible one of a kind masterpiece valued (and officially appraised) at $1.1 million. It is a work of art unparalleled in the area of miniatures and miniature structures. It is 100% handcrafted in a 1” to 1’ scale and stands a grand 9 feet high (not including the base), is over 5 feet wide, and weighs about 800 pounds. The quality, depth, and attention to detail are so realistic that a photo (no matter how high quality) gives no clue that in fact, the photo is of a miniature. Each photo looks as if it is of an actual full size room. The level of detail ranks it as one of the finest miniature structures in the world today. Over 100,000 pieces are contained within its walls, that were built, commissioned, or purchased to the highest standards. It must be seen in person to be believed!

INTERIOR: Within its walls are 29 rooms with 10 adjoining areas, staircases, and hallways; an electric elevator; 36 glass windows; numerous terraces, towers and turrets; 2 independent electrical systems (12 volt for miniature lighting and 110 for indirect); weathered real copper roof and flickering fireplaces. It has marbleized bathrooms; parquet floors; intricate moldings and trim; and is decorated with a vast collection of furnishings and accessories. Some of the chandeliers and wall sconces are incredible pieces of detail and all contain actual (miniature) working bulbs. Well over 100 are contained in the Castle and there is also an indirect lighting system. Some of the furnishings contain trimming of real gold.
The interior finishes are a unique combination of built-in handmade items (such as a copper electrified fireplace, a ballroom bar, gold ceilings, and parquet floors), as well as high quality furniture and accessories handmade by leading miniature artisans and rare antique pieces. During its construction many pieces were commissioned by famous miniaturists and artists including George Becker, Warren Dick, Pete Acquisto, Mary McGrath, Frank Balestrieri, Laurel Coulon, and even pieces from a Chicago Museum that was sold as part of an exhibit of artifacts from Pompeii. Pieces from Vince Stapleton, the Goebel Butterfly Collection, and countless others are also included.

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Click here to view larger. EXTERIOR: The exterior is made of a unique faux granite--hand sculpted and carved from a unique (strengthened) mixture of papier-mâché. It took over a year to complete this phase of the construction alone. The Castle is finished on all sides and is completely enclosed so as to create a realistic façade with the additional benefit of providing security for its furnishings and safe viewing in a public domain. Numerous exterior walls are hinged to open, allowing access to the interior and furnishings. The Castle is freestanding and is viewable from 360 degrees; however, one back area was left without windows so that the Castle may be placed against a wall, if desired.
UNIQUE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION: The castle is uniquely engineered and is comprised of approximately 200 central blocks that inter-lock into each other with precision pegs that lock into each other.

3-DIMENSIONAL LAYOUT: The Castle is laid out in a manner to maximize viewing from one room through to another, creating a 3-dimensional experience. The Dollhouse Castle’s entrance level opens to a grand hall with a staircase, private family chapel, armory, country kitchen, and a unique rock-walled wine cellar that revolves to open onto either the armory or kitchen. At the rear of the entrance lobby is the main floor of the elevator.
Both the staircase and the electrified elevator ascend to the next level, which includes a formal living room, dining room, butler’s pantry (with a working dumb waiter and spiral staircase connecting to the country kitchen below), and a music room/library with floor-to-ceiling shelving, balcony, and flickering fireplace. The grand piano has actual strings.
The Castle’s third floor has a grand Master Bedroom with a vaulted ceiling, sitting room, and powder room; a luxurious Oriental Bedroom, sitting room, and blue marble bath. A delightfully feminine Girl’s Bedroom with a private balcony and another marble bath are also included on this level.
The fourth floor is decidedly masculine with its Smoking and Trophy Rooms, divided by a copper fireplace; and another bedroom and bath done in a Spanish motif. The trophies on the wall utilize actual animal fur and there are oil paintings that are less than one inch square. They reportedly were painted by a brush containing one hair.
A majestic Victorian ballroom and bar dominate the fifth floor, featuring a domed ceiling and pearlized floor. A musician’s balcony overlooks the ballroom, and a ladies lounge is off to one side.
A winding staircase leads from the ladies lounge to the Dollhouse Castle’s highest level, the Wizard’s Tower/Observatory, in which resides the wizard himself. The ceiling is decorated with signs from the zodiac.
Tucked away in and around primary rooms are additional areas, such as a servant’s room and bath, servant’s hallways and staircases, and even a pigeon coop. A unique dovecote is incorporated into the exterior.

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HISTORY OF CONSTRUCTION: Designed and created by Colorado miniaturist Elaine Diehl, who was inspired by the character of Lady Elaine and her fantasy castle in Tennyson’s Lady of the Lake. She tapped some of the best known miniaturists and artisans in the world to create furniture, sculptings, art work, lighting, and much more to include in her Castle. The Castle and its interiors, ceilings, and floors was constructed over a 13-year period. From 1978 to 1981 the various pieces were put together to form the final creation. Its construction encompassed over 6,000 thousand hours of work; not counting the time it took to create or commission the various pieces within its walls. It took more than a year alone just to carve the outside faux-finish stone. The Castle was on display for many years in her store/museum until Ms. Diehl sold her enterprise in 1996 and went into retirement.

CURRENT OWNERS: The current owners are Dr. Michael Freeman and his wife Lois. They acquired the Castle from Elaine Diehl over a decade ago (when she retired and sold her store/museum) amidst much interest in the Castle from both museums and individuals. The Castle was dismantled, trucked to New York, and reassembled under the watchful eye of Elaine and Lois. The Castle then became part of Lois’s private collection of more than 80 (mostly antique) dollhouses. Lois upgraded many areas of the Castle, affected needed repairs, and augmented many of the internal pieces to an even higher level of quality, uniqueness, and antiquity. Lois’ overall compilation of antique dollhouses, accessories, and furnishings has been featured in over 100 photographs appearing in several books.

HOW TO SEE THE DOLLHOUSE CASTLE: Lois and Michael have loaned the Dollhouse Castle to the Nassau County Museum of Art on Long Island New York. It is on public display at the Tee Ridder Miniature Museum located at 15 Museum Drive, in the town of Roslyn NY 11576. The phone number of the Tee Ridder Museum is (516) 484-9338 Ext 15. For more information email Emjay842@aol.com (However, please put DollhouseCastle as the subject of your email).

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