Bomb Site House 1940 Interior (Part two)

Bomb Site House 1940 Interior (Part two)

Veronica Tonge



The now transformed cabinet

As an artist, I am intrigued by the transformation that time and ‘play’ has on the old doll’s houses that I collect. Old painted surfaces, damage and lost structure and furniture are part of the history of the object, the result of many years use by families. This doll’s house was ‘modernised’ with crudely applied paint in the 1960s. I think of it as a artwork, with multiple layers - not only of paint but meaning - and something that can reveal unexpected surprises that are visually interesting, like this sanded down cabinet, part in original colour scheme of dark cream and turquoise blue but retaining an element of the later makeover red and white. I loved the result - rich texture and bold primary colours!




 the cabinet before transformation to an artwork

My idea of ‘restoration’ in old doll’s houses has always been to rework age and history, resulting in a artwork with multiple meanings. 
 
I acquired the 1940s Bomb Site Doll’s House in 2013 and managed to contact the original owner, then in her late 70s, shortly after. Our phone conversation revealed that there had been sliding doors and a parquet floor in the dining room, long gone. Peter was able to remake these, imagining what they might have looked like, but providing something that was in keeping with the old, play worn look of the house as it is today.

The house was made for sisters and had two identical sets of furniture. Two single beds survive, a wardrobe, and part of a bedside cabinet. I had to re-glue parts that had fallen off, but the original 1940s paint scheme is a precious survivor, far better than ’shabby chic’ and will not be touched! Perhaps the missing drawer might get replaced sometime…