A2: New Hampshire Parlor, c. 1710
c. 1940
Medium
Miniature room, mixed media
Dimensions
Scale 1 inch = 1 foot: 21.3 × 56.9 × 40.4 cm (8 3/8 × 22 7/16 × 15 7/8 in.); Interior, Scale 1 inch = 1 foot: 21.6 × 57.8 × 41 cm (8 1/2 × 22 3/4 × 16 1/8 in.)
Classification
thorne rooms
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
45317
Art Historical Context
Narcissa Niblack Thorne’s *New Hampshire Parlor*, created around 1940, offers a meticulously detailed glimpse into early American domestic life. At a scale of one inch to one foot, this miniature room recreates the intimate setting of a colonial parlor from around 1710, complete with period furnishings, paneling, and decorative elements typical of New England homes. Thorne, known for her series of Thorne Rooms, used mixed media to capture the textures of wood, fabric, and ceramics with remarkable precision, inviting viewers to appreciate the craftsmanship of both the original era and her own. ...
About the Artist
Narcissa Niblack Thorne · 1882–1966
Narcissa Niblack Thorne (1882–1966) was born on May 2 in Vincennes, Indiana, the eldest child of William Niblack and Frances Caldwell Niblack. Her family relocated to Chicago during her childhood, where she received a patchwork education: homeschooled by a governess, public schooling from age eleven, private classes, and finishing at the elite Kenwood Institute in Hyde Park. Extensive family trave...