Day 37-MMOT, Here I Come

SOMETHING EXCITING happened at work today. The firm is organising a trip to Taiwan over the Good Friday weekend in April and I am really really thrilled at the prospect of my 1st ever visit to a doll house museum. I am already planning a full day (if necessary) visit to the Miniatures Museum of Taiwan in Taipei with a few girls from the office.

Pics on top and left are of the main exhibit "Rose Mansion".
" Rose Mansion " is one of the museum's most famous collections and is based on a 19th century Victorian residence in Los Angeles, now lost to urban renewal. It was constructed by Reginald Twigg to preserve a memory and is regarded as a hallmark piece because of its precise detail and surreal beauty.It has been chosen as one of the ten most significant miniature art works of America in the past 25 years. It took almost four years to complete and elaborate research and study were made of the once famous architecture. Rose Mansion epitomises the best of miniature art in its accurate depiction of a romantic and delicate era.

The following exhibits are featured on their website as some of the museum's "extremes"-

The Museum's 1st Collection: Country Tea House and Antique Shop
Details of this dollhouse includes an owl, birds' nest, even bees around the flower basket. This "humble" exhibit is probably how the museum starts. Apparently, the idea for the museum originated from the founders', Mr. & Mrs Lin Wen-ren 's extensive travels abroad and their love for buying miniature art for souvenirs.

The Museum's Most Valuable: Buckingham Palace
This has to be the one that I am most keen to see for obvious reasons. (hint:"Palace"). It was created by the renowned British miniaturist team of Kevin and Susan Mulvany and took three years to finish. The grand Palace setting is a faithful rendering complete with regal interiors, royal guards, peasant dwellings and the King's treasure box.

The Museum's Smallest Scale Exhibit: Treetop Mine.
This model of a mine on a treetop is built in 1:120 scale. I am also excited about this one for it remarkably has all the items needed to make a mine work, including a little train carrying loads of ore coming out of the mine shaft.

Although all the works of art are small in size, it is remarkable how wide a spectrum of life and fantasy the museum collection covers. The models are all built to scale, with the 12:1 scale dominating, but there some models at 24:1, 48:1, and of course this one at 120:1.

The Museum's Most Popular Roombox: A Gentleman's Haven
The most amazing article in this room has to be the world's smallest working TV. There are of course golf clubs and tennis rackets so you wonder how he has time for tv.The roombox is depicted as a wonderful retreat from a hard day's work and one easily picture a distinguished gentleman, looking out into the lush greenery from this room, slowly sipping his cuppa and dreaming of the memoirs he wants to write or maybe blog.

The Museum's Largest Scene: Colorado Mountain Street
This scene depicts a village in the American west, in 1912, in the midst of a sudden thunderstorm. Each house depicts something special going on.

Despite their size, all of the exhibits not only carry details that are accurate and true to the original, they also tell humorous stories and present places and structures of historic significance.

From the ruins of ancient Rome to the salon of the French King Louis XV, from an old English tavern to a scene from the Phantom of the Opera, I will travel through time and through the architectural styles and fashions of different centuries. In the end I will feel like I've actually been to all these fascinating places.

Most importantly, I will get to visit THE SHOP! In the shop of the museum visitors can either buy ready-made miniatures or DIY kits, including railroad models as well as miniature articles such as furniture, accessories, electrifying material, and lighting fixtures. Poor deprived me..