A History of Dolls' Houses
Charles Rennie Mackintosh, 1868 – 1928
Charles Rennie Mackintosh was born in Glasgow, the
son of a police superintendent. He was a sickly child, the second son
in a family of eleven children. The family doctor encouraged him to
take plenty of exercise in the open air and to have long holidays whenever
possible, which he did throughout Scotland and enjoyed sketching the
buildings and flora and fauna in the countryside around Glasgow.
Mackintosh’s father was a keen gardener and encouraged his children
to participate. This led Mackintosh to a deep appreciation of nature
from which his organic approach to design evolved. He expressed a desire
to become an architect at an early age and did so against his father’s
wishes.
He married Margaret Macdonald, an accomplished artist and the two
collaborated together on a number of projects.
Mackintosh became one of the early pioneers of the Modern Movement
and among his major architectural works is Glasgow School of Art (now
the Mackintosh Building), a series of Glasgow Tea Room interiors and
large private houses such as Windy Hill in Kilmacolm and The Hill House
in Helensburgh.
The majority of Mackintosh’s work is in and
around Glasgow and most of it is open to the public. It serves to inspire
and remind us of the genius which has been heralded as the forerunner
to the modern movement.
Accompanied by a large range of Mackintosh furniture,
The Dolls House Emporium Charles Rennie Mackintosh-style Dolls’ House
has been chosen as an exhibit in the Bethnall Green Museum, London.
The staircase of the house has unique CRM details and the newel post
design is inspired by one in Martyr’s Public School. The front
door design reflects 78 Southpark Avenue (Mackintosh’s own home),
the chimney with bay window is from Hill House as are the fixed shutters
around the master bedroom windows. The internal doors are inspired
by Craigie Hall internal doors, the arch above the master bedroom
is inspired by ‘The
Chicken Run’ (Glasgow School of Art) and the columns holding
the gallery walk are inspired by columns in House For Art Lover.
Sadly, Mackintosh died in London in virtual obscurity
- he had received much more acclaim for his work in Germany and Austria
than in Britain.
External Links: