These miniature flowers (actual size) are made out of metal alloy which has been modelled and hand painted. The pots are made of bronze and cold painted. They were done in the 1920s and are the work of Beatrice Hindley.
Beatrice was asked by the illustrious garden designer, Gertrude Jekyll, to make the plants for Queen Mary's dolls' house. These little pieces are highly collectible with individual pots selling for considerable sums of money. She also made flowers to go in Titania's Palace, a miniature castle that was hand-built in Ireland for Sir Neville Wilkinson. You may have seen it when visiting Legoland, Denmark.
When Beatrice died she left her entire collection of miniature flowers to the Queen.
video of Titania's Palace in Legoland, Denmark - if you look carefully you can see Beatrice's flowers.
Amazing. I had never heard of these miniature flowers nor the palace. Pleased to read it had been used to raise funds for needy children.
ReplyDeleteDear Karen - I am pleased that you enjoyed the post. I was debating whether or not to bother posting it as I could not find decent photos of the flowers, which are in fact very beautiful and accurate flower depictions.
DeleteYes, it is good that the money was used for need children.
At first sight, the small flower pots reminded me of “bonsai”, a horticultural art whereby trees and grasses are transplanted into small containers and are trained to grow into the shapes of naturally grown ones. Actually the photos made me think they are pots of fresh flowers. Now I understand what they are. Then I think of Japanese set of hina dolls (dolls of Imperial court) with furniture, though the set doesn’t contain such variety of items like the Titania’s Palace. I enjoyed this post admiring the exquisite handicraft by artisans. Thanks for this interesting post, Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Dear Yoko - so many interesting thoughts from you here. Unfortunately the photos of the miniature dolls house flowers are very tiny too, so they are difficult to make out.
DeleteIt is only when you see them in the context of Titania's Palace that they make sense. Thanks for your visit.
Hello, Rosemary - These are charming — flowers and palaces both! For your readers who are interested in dollhouses and miniatures, be sure to look up the miniature White House, which resides at the Gerald Ford Museum.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mark - I shall check that out now, and I am sure other readers will too.
DeleteHello Rosemary:
ReplyDeleteOh, these are so delightful. How we should love to own just one for our own dolls' house. The workmanship is so incredibly detailed, one has difficulty imagining how they can be made and what tiny tools would be needed to make them.
We have never heard of Titania's Palace and so that was a complete revelation and one which we have very much enjoyed seeing.
Hello Jane and Lance - I regret that I was not able to get better photos, because in reality the detail is so perfect.
DeleteI agree that they would look lovely in your own dolls' house - they sell for over £500 per pot!
Oh, how gorgeous, Rosemary. I'd never heard of them or their maker, but her skill and artistry is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI first came across them on the Antique Roadshow Perpetua. A young women arrived with about 15 of them. It was then that the expert said that the Queen had been left Beatrice's own collection and that they were also in Titania's Palace.
DeleteIt was a very nice video. Incredible some one can make this. I saw the plants with pot's because you told us to watch It's a shame that the one it was build for never played with it. Great you mentioned the maker of this beautiful things.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend Rosemary.
It was a shame that the child was grown up by the time it was finished. However, now it delights many, many children when they visit Legoland.
DeleteHow wonderful! I love the little pots! Shame they are so tiny, you can't really see and appreciate themin all their beauty. I spotted two or three of them in the Palace. The palace of Titania is absolutely fascinating and it goes to show what rich children get, when others are starving. Still a thing of beauty, though... great beauty! So much detail and absolute perfection!
ReplyDeleteI think I heard, towards the end that the palace was sold to raise money for deprived children, which is absolutely fantastic!
Thank you for another really interesting post, Rosemary!
CIAO!
ANNA
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Dear Anna - I nearly did not post this as I could only find small images of the pots, and in reality they are so beautiful. Yes, you are right of course about rich children, but of course this was built in the Victorian era when people were not so aware as they are today.
DeleteYou are correct, the Palace was sold to raise money for deprived children, and the Palace is now enjoyed by lots of children who visit Legoland in Denmark everyday.
Glad you enjoyed it Anna
Ciao♥
Absolutely extraordinary! The attention to detail is wonderful, so much so that I felt like a nosy neighbour snooping around. I'd love to hear the organ being played.
ReplyDeletePaul
Dear Paul - everything was made by the top artists and craftsmen of the day. I agree it would have been lovely to hear the organ being played - thanks for your visit.
DeleteAmazing.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of the miniature flowers or the palace.
It was wonderful to see the film and the photos.
Thanks for sharing, dear Rosemary.
Mette
Dear Mette - I am so pleased that you enjoyed seeing the flowers and the Palace. As I mentioned before I nearly didn't post it because I could not find good photos of the flowers, however, quite a few people have enjoyed seeing it♥
DeleteAmazing! I wonder whether the children did ever play with it! It looks so costly and precious! The miniature flowers are wonderful - Beatrice must have had a very special talent and very delicate hands. Should I think I would visit Legoland just because of that! Thank you! Christa
ReplyDeleteDear Christa - you are right everything in it very costly and made by the top craftspeople of the Victorian era. The girl it was made for was 30 years old by the time it was finished. All the furniture is classed as antique along with all of the other objects made for it.
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