$47,500
Sold
sold
Description
57" (145 cm.) w. x 62"h.(including stand) x 20"d.
A superb wooden-framed house on its original
arcaded faux-brick stand has scored and painted
exterior walls to simulate stone and brick and a
shallow steepled roof that is hidden by the
balustrade that extends around the front and two
sides of the house,terminating at the side
chimneys. There is a paneled double front door
flanked by columns and protected with a small
portico that serves as a balcony floor for the
second floor; that balcony is framed by wire
rails. Six-pane glazed windows appear on the first
and third floors. On the second floor there is a
central Venetian window flanked by 15-pane glazed
windows with molded dentil cornices. Windows are
repeated on both sides,too. The interior is
accessed by three front-opening wings that reveal
six rooms,a hallway,and two landings,each of which
are framed in an unusual curved proscenium. The
curving staircase has brass wire banisters and
papered floor for an inlaid marble effect. The
kitchen floor is painted to simulate flagstone and
two old plate racks and work table are included.
Each of the other rooms has a fireplace with
surround. There is minor restoration to the
facade,original paintwork survives in four rooms.
English,circa 1775,the house was previously owned
by Vivien Greene and displayed at her Rotunda
Museum,appeared on the cover of her 1998 auction
catalog,and was featured in the book,The Vivien
Greene Dolls? House Collection,where it was named
"The Balustraded House". The book offered such
tantalizing information as the fact of the side
windows being blacked out with pitch to avoid the
window tax of 1697,and the kitchen painted blue to
discourage flies. An outstanding house with fine
architectural details on the exterior,and very
livable and accessible interior rooms,now more
than two centuries of age.