A Bluestocking Knits

Of course I've known about the famous Queen Mary's Doll's House for quite a long time — but I didn't know that she had another house — properly "Queen Mary's Rooms" — which is now at the V&A.  Far more intimate, this two-room house was made, the museum says, in 1920-24 by David Allan, who was responsible for the textiles and upholstery at Buckingham Palace.  Queen Mary gave the house to the Museum of Childhood in 1924.

The "big" house is amazing and splendid, but to my mind this little one is far more charming!  It's very beautifully made, too, — look at all of the mouldings around the tops of the walls, and the mitered corners of the sitting-room floor.  I keep finding new details in these photos — of which there are more on the museum website — like the family portraits on the folding screen, and the hot water bottle, and the lorgnette on the desk….