Friday, October 23, 2009

Miniature set designs

In honor of the miniature interiors that Peak of Chic blogged about today, I thought I would show you the set designs displayed in the library of the Garnier Opera House in Paris.
The Paris Opera House is also known as the Palais Garnier, after the architect who designed this magnificent structure, Charles Garnier. Designed in neo-baroque style, the opera was completed in 1875 and is truly one of the most amazing places I have ever visited. I can't wait to show you more of it at a later date. However -onto the miniature set designs!
These small boxes line part of the library you can see above and aren't more than 12 inches high and are lit from behind. I'll never know what it is about miniatures that are so fascinating. Can't you see yourself viewing an opera in one of these?

This seems to have been part of the tour of the opera that visitors tend to linger at the longest! Everyone loves a miniature: I suppose it brings out the child in all of us.


At the end of the library is this really beautiful painting, definitely not in miniature as the ballerina is shown at full scale!
Make sure to click on the images to see them at a larger size -the detail is amazing!

7 comments:

vicki archer said...

These are wonderful miniatures...love all the details, xv.

DECORADDICTIVE said...

Thank you forthis lovely post. I love miniatures, and I am sorry to say that although I have been on Paris several times I never had the pleasure of seeing the ones displayed at the Garnier Opera House in Paris. By the way, I love your blog.

The Down East Dilettante said...

Thanks so much for this post---was completely unaware of this collection, and very excited to see it.

Ashfield Hansen Design Inc. said...

Absolutely stunning! Thank you for sharing.
David @ Ashfield Hansen Design

www.ashfieldhansendesign.blogspot.com

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

Great! I think you are right about the attraction-I saw the Thorne Miniatures this summer and it was full of guys-young teenagers really into it-along with many older kids like me. thanks for letting me take a pek. G

Greet Lefèvre said...

I have not been yet in the Opera Garnier! But I love to!! Certainly now when i saw all these wonderful miniature paintings! A GREAT POST!!! Thank you so much for sharing!
Greet

The Peak of Chic said...

I've been meaning to get back here to comment. These are absolutely enchanting! What amazes me is the detail. It's incredible.