Miniature Rooms: The Thorne Rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago

I read reviews about the Thorne rooms and was so impressed that I bought this book, site unseen. It's absolutly breathtaking. I was just amazed at the quality of the minatures. The thing that struck me the most about this book though is the taste of the subject matter. Mrs Thorne had a fantasic eye for the classically beautiful and made a lifes work out of reproducing it for the enjoyment of others. This lady doesn't just cover different styles from different centuries. She showcases some of the most beautiful trends and styles from several different nations in a deceptivly simple format. The whole concept and execution is just astonishing. A must for an interior designer or anyone who genuinely loves period style.

This is a great book to have. Wonderful pictures. Great detail. A must have for anyone interested in miniatures.

I had not heard anything about the Thorne rooms before, so when I received this book as a gift, I became completely enthralled with the images that were captured. As an avid lover of historic preservation and the decorative arts, I really appreciate how Mrs. Thorne captured the different historical eras in the fashion and furnishings of each room. It is truly amazing how detailed each room is. If you love historic preservation and/or miniatures, then this book is a must see and read!

This is certainly the definitive book on the sixty-eight miniature rooms in the Chicago Art Institute. Each room is given two photographs along with a description of the room pictured. The book also contains information on Mrs. Thorne and how the rooms came into being. Her artistry in creating miniature rooms which seem more like full sized interiors was amazing and her sense of taste and style impeccable. I have visited The Thorne Rooms many times over the years and they never fail to enchant me. This book allows me to call them to mind easily and aids me in my own building of miniature rooms. The one thing that the book cannot show is the great attention to detail Mrs. Thorne gave to the rooms off the main rooms and the outside scenery created for each room. However, the book does give an excellent idea of the nature of the rooms and the reason why they are so famous and loved.

If you've ever visited the Art Institute and wished that you could spend more time enjoying the Thorne Rooms, this book is a way for you to visit them as often as you would like. "Miniature Rooms" begins with a brief history of Mrs. Thorne and how the rooms came to be. The rest of the book is a complete catalog of the Rooms, divided into two sections - the European rooms and the American rooms. Every room is beautifully photographed from at least two angles, using the existing lighting in the rooms so that each has the same realistic quality enjoyed in the Institute. Along with each photograph is a description of the room and its furnishings. I would recommend "Miniature Rooms" to anyone who enjoys the Art of Miniatures.