Doll's House of Petronella Oortman
Tortoiseshell cabinet with pewter inlays, and other materials; anonymous, c. 1686–c. 1710
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

The doll's house is a detailed miniature representation of a 17th-century Dutch canal house, designed as a cabinet with marquetry of tortoiseshell and pewter inlays on an oak core, crafted by a French cabinetmaker. It features two front doors with six faceted windows. The volute legs, arranged in an S-shape twice at an angle, are connected by scalloped X-shaped crosses. Three drawers are positioned above the legs. A team of specialised tradespeople, including woodcarvers, basket weavers, silversmiths, and glassblowers, were commissioned to create the miniatures. Everything they made appears realistic, which contributed to the doll's house's fame. It contains over 1,000 items, including furniture, most of which are decorated with thin, symmetrical leaves, porcelain, textiles, upholstery, real running water, and various decorative objects and finishes that Petronella Oortman (1656–1716) either commissioned or collected over many years. Real paintings by Cornelis Dusart adorn the walls of the nursery. Built to scale, the doll's house includes intricately designed rooms, such as a drawing room, kitchen, and bedroom, reflecting the daily life of affluent Dutch citizens during the Dutch Golden Age. Only one original doll remains. The doll's house stands as a testament to the craftsmanship of the time and highlights the wealth and high social standing of Oortman, who would invite visitors by appointment to view it. The doll's house and its contents were valued at 20,000 to 30,000 florins, roughly equivalent to the price of a real house on one of Amsterdam's canals.






  




 

 

 

 





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