A8: Massachusetts Bedroom, c. 1801 c. 1940

Narcissa Niblack Thorne made this miniature Massachusetts Bedroom around 1801. It’s a tiny room, but it's bursting with details, and it’s all handmade. Look closely and you'll see the textures that bring this space to life. The sheen on the wood floor, the woven rugs, and the soft fabric draped over the four-poster bed all feel incredibly real. The lighting, whether natural or artificial, creates depth, casting shadows that emphasize the contours of the room. Notice the small rug in front of the fireplace: it has a dark, rich texture with intricate patterns, which contrast beautifully with the room's softer colors. It draws you in, making you want to explore every corner. Thorne's miniature reminds me of Joseph Cornell’s boxes - they’re both masters of creating entire worlds within small spaces. What’s really cool is that Thorne invites us to look closer, to find beauty in the miniature, and to think about how we experience space and objects. It’s all about looking and seeing, and how much stories these objects can tell.