Well The Miniaturist is excellent following a rather sad plot line the strength of its heroine stands out. Pat was worried that it would not keep in step with the book but it has, the backgrounds are like superb Dutch paintings, the sense of menace in dark panelled wooden rooms and especially in that creepy dolls house. Above is Petronella Oortman's cabinet house, housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amersterdam. I have written elsewhere of the book, though I did not touch on the fact that Nella's husband never consummates the marriage due to the fact that he is gay. This of course will lead to his death by drowning, the strong voice of the Catholic church is to be his downfall, (and of course the manipulations of another trader on sugar) but it is an exhilarating story of lives once lived in Amersterdam, BBC have truly produced a classic film to roam the airways for evermore ;)
A couple of photos on my dolls house (very dusty when I opened it) there is a clash of what I want and what Lillie my grand daughter likes. I need to do something about the curtains for a start and rearrange the kitchen, but as a house it looks very lived in! In the second photo the silver definitely needs cleaning, Jim said that there was still miniature furniture to collect, so maybe I will look round for some.
I read the book and while I knew of doll houses (or baby houses as they were once known) and their history, and the marvellous miniatures constructed today by Kevin Mulvany and Susie Rogers, I wasn't entirely convinced by either the book or the TV drama. I wasn't sure why the miniaturist kept sending the small items to Petronella, it all seemed muddled plotting - Marin having a baby by black Otto, the gay husband, the sugar problem ... but I do have to say it was beautifully filmed, as if paintings by Pieter de Hooch had come to life. Love your little table and chair (photo above.)
ReplyDeleteMargaret P
www.margaretpowling.com
Hello, I think the storyline had modern connotations in it that we find in our society today, but must have surely echoed back in history. The miniaturist's role was a hard one to define, her 'mystery' lay in fortelling the future. Funnily enough my partner said when it finished that he wanted the story to go on.
DeleteMy father made a beautiful dolls house for my granddaughter which never got used much. It sits forlornly in the basement. Maybe that should be my project this year?
ReplyDeleteI think the answer is to construct a story for the inhabitants of the house, it can be very fiddly by the way. Laura Ashley materials date my house..
DeleteLovely to see your house. Mine is still unopened and very dusty! I had a fabulous miniature memento mori to add to my collection. Have read the book but am yet to watch the programme.
ReplyDeleteArilx
Well I had to go and look that one up Aril. amd anyone else who wonders, 'remember you must die' http://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/m/memento-mori for explanation. Was it a skull I wonder and was it made out of bone ;)
DeleteI have always wanted to buy a dolls house and furnish it but I guess the time has passed when it is a realistic proposition. I too loved The Minisaturist and am thinking of recommending it as the book of the month when it is my choice at my book club.o
ReplyDeleteThe drama was good Pat, I loved the severity of the women's looks, the horrifying act of execution had the hand of the church in it.
DeleteTam and I have yet to watch part 2 of the Miniaturist, but it's very good, and faithful to the book. Quite creepy . . .
ReplyDeleteI love your doll's house (envious!) and look forward to seeing any improvements you make.
Enjoy your Phil Rickman's. You will be pinned to them from page 1!
Hi Jennie, Of course Rickman's books are going to come to an end soon, but they are gripping, this one I am reading bases its plot on Morris dancers. How does he imagine such things as dressing a corpse in the gear. still to finish the book.
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