Maker(s): | Shonibare, Yinka
| Culture: | British (1962 - )
| Title: | Doll House
| Date Made: | 2002
| Type: | Sculpture
| Materials: | mixed media
| Place Made: | United States
| Measurements: | house: 13 x 8 x 9 1/4 in.; 33.02 x 20.32 x 23.495 cm
| Narrative Inscription: | unsigned undated, impressed blue "medallion" on proper left wall with: Peter Norton Family Christmas Project, Yinka Shonibare, artist, lives here
| Accession Number: | SC 2002.26
| Credit Line: | Gift of Dr. and Mrs. James A. Muspratt, through the generosity of Regina Taylor and Peter Norton
| Museum Collection: | Smith College Museum of Art
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Currently on view |
Description: gold brick Victorian row house, green front door recessed in oval entry on proper right, oval topped single window above it, large bay window first floor proper left with oval topped three-part window above it, small chimney on slate roof at proper left edge; both levels have "wood" floors and "wallpaper", gold and green diagonal pattern on first and blue-green and red floral pattern on second; first floor furniture consists of fireplace, highboy, upholstered wing chair with matching footstool, small oval side table, round table, two side chairs, bookcase, and small stem glass and bowl; second floor furniture consists of fireplace, canopy bed with bedding, corner washstand, metal framed photograph of interior with figures, metal framed reproduction of Fragonard "The Swing", side chair, wood framed wall mirror, three drawer bureau and washbowl with ewer
Label Text: Doll House recreates the artist’s 1872 Victorian town house in the East End of London. It reflects the artist’s dual cultural identity as an artist with Nigerian roots who lives and works in England. Fabric features prominently in conveying the message of his work, which questions “Englishness” and “African-ness” as an artificial social construction. Furniture in the Doll House is upholstered with a specific kind of batik or “Dutch wax” textile that at first may be construed as “authentically” African, but is instead a kind of cultural hybrid. These fabrics were based on Indonesian printed batik designs that were manufactured in Holland and England and sold to the West African market.
Tags: architecture; interiors Link to share this object record: https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=SC+2002.26 |