Welcome to Astolat Castle
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.
The dollhouse takes its name after the castle in The Lady of Shallot - a 19th century ballad by Alfred Lord Tennyson.
The grand entrance features a fountain. The main door leads to a grand entrance hall.
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.
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.
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.
The bottles in the castle's bar contain real liquor. Can you spot the Jameson, Bailey's, and Gordon's Gin?
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.
The world's most famous dollhouse was built in 1924 for Queen Mary and is displayed at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England.
This room is the Armory - a weaponry room.
And this is the Dovecote - a shelter room for domesticated pigeons.
Curator Dorothy Twining Globus, standing next to the 9-foot tall castle which weighs more than 800 pounds.
Source
Photos: Zack DeZon
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