Fabulous 1880-Era Wooden House with Faux-Stone Design and Balcony,Attributed to F&M Sturm

Live Auction

38"w. x 36"h. x 17"d. The open-front two-story wooden house has original grey painted finish to simulate stone,with decorative grey and cream speckled columns to suggest marble,and artfully-painted trellises,flowers and vines on the exterior. The painting extends around the entire house. There are two side balconies on the second floor with fancy- balustrade railings,and doors opening to the interior with pebbled glass windows. Four interior rooms highlighted by one large room on the second floor have early wall and rare ceiling papers,and the floors are all paper-lithographed to simulate parquet. The rooms all have metal cornices with silk or lace curtains. The grand room on the second floor has a superb chandelier of crystal and ruby with silver filigree frame,and is furnished with beaded carpet and a late-19th century parlor set upholstered in red silk,comprising sofa and six chairs. There is a marble top table,an unusual wooden table with marble whale-shaped feet,marble bowl with birds at the sides,marble-shelf pier mirror,dessert buffet,and three carved-ivory-framed early engravings,along with various decorative accessories and a porcelain tea service. Two early German porcelain dollhouse dolls in antique costumes live in the room. The lower floor has three rooms. On the left is a servantÞs kitchen room with simple wooden chairs and table. The middle room is highlighted by a domed-recess in the ceiling,and features a woven tapestry carpet,marble-top table and stand and a trio of early Waltershausen cabinets with faux-marble painted-wood columns at the front. Porcelain vases and accessories,a faux-marble bust,and various framed engravings accent the room. On the right is the childrenÞs nursery with tin swing,fine tin miniature carriage in original cream with blue painted trim,tin wash stand,and soft metal chandelier and plant stand; there is a blue beaded carpet and a porcelain baby seated on a chamber pot. Excellent condition. Germany,a rare and superb house attributed to F & M Sturm of Nuremberg,circa 1880,of which few examples are known to exist.