header print

This Unbelievable Dollhouse Costs $8.5 Million

The price of this dollhouse may seem rather unrealistic...until you take a closer look! The artist of this extravagant home, Elaine Diehl, left no stone unturned and focused on the most minute of details. In fact, the house is decorated with 10,000 teeny-tiny items. Without a doubt, the dollhouse is beyond belief - it has a weaponry room, a dovecote, a wizard's tower and lots more. Valued at $8.5 million, here's what the world's most expensive dollhouse looks like.
 
Click on images to enlarge

Welcome to Astolat Castle

Expensive - Dollhouse

Diehl spent 13 years building the miniature dollhouse, which has an appraised worth of $8.5 million - that works out to about $288,000 per square foot. 

Expensive - Dollhouse

The dollhouse takes its name after the castle in The Lady of Shallot - a 19th century ballad by Alfred Lord Tennyson. 

Expensive - Dollhouse

The grand entrance features a fountain. The main door leads to a grand entrance hall. 

Expensive - Dollhouse
Expensive - Dollhouse

With the hinges open, you can see all the detail involved. Reminiscent of a real stately home, this dollhouse also features finishes like real parquet floors, marble bathroom and gilt trim. These details give the house a sense that the castle was inhabited by a Victorian dame. 

Expensive - Dollhouse

The finer touches, as seen in the salon, include hand-stitched tapestries, vases made out of Lapis Lazuli as well as replica 18th century oil paintings. Displayed on the wall here is a reproduction of Thomas Lawrence's Pinkie.

Expensive - Dollhouse

Tiny books with tiny letters are featured in the library - all of which can be read with the help of a magnifying glass. The book collection stored here features a bible too - and it must be the world's smallest. 

Expensive - Dollhouse
Expensive - Dollhouse
Expensive - Dollhouse
Expensive - Dollhouse

The bottles in the castle's bar contain real liquor. Can you spot the Jameson, Bailey's, and Gordon's Gin? 

Expensive - Dollhouse
 
Expensive - Dollhouse
Expensive - Dollhouse
Expensive - Dollhouse

Dollhouses date back to the 17th century, and were perceived to be displays of fine craftsmanship acquired by wealthy families in Holland, Germany, and England. 

Expensive - Dollhouse

The world's most famous dollhouse was built in 1924 for Queen Mary and is displayed at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England. 

Expensive - Dollhouse
Expensive - Dollhouse
Expensive - Dollhouse
Expensive - Dollhouse
Expensive - Dollhouse
Expensive - Dollhouse

This room is the Armory - a weaponry room. 

Expensive - Dollhouse

And this is the Dovecote - a shelter room for domesticated pigeons. 

Expensive - Dollhouse

Curator Dorothy Twining Globus, standing next to the 9-foot tall castle which weighs more than 800 pounds. 

Source
Photos: Zack DeZon

 

 

Related Articles:

Gerard Brion's Incredible Miniature Paris

Stefan Bleekrode, an Artist Who Draws from Memory

Rice Straw Is Used to Create These Sculptures

An Indian Artist Has Made the World's Tallest Bird Statue

Next Post
Sign Up for Free Daily Posts!
Did you mean:
Continue With: Facebook Google
By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Sign Up for Free Daily Posts!
Did you mean:
Continue With: Facebook Google
By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy