October 2010, Issue 9
Book Review
Page 71
Reviewed
Storybook Style
America's Whimsical...
of the Twenties
By Arrol Gellner and Douglas Keister
160 pages. Published by Viking Studio, 2001
For any fan of whimsy who ever considered building their own dollhouse - or for those who have a house they want to transform with special touches - this book is one of the most valuable assets published.
The oversized hardback, originally published at $34.95, may be found as low as $11.95 on used book sites, showcases homes across America created in the incredible Storybook Style of architecture. This style, popularized in the Twenties, has three distinct attributes: "exaggeratedly plastic and often cartoonish interpretation of medieval forms; use of artificial means to suggest great age; and 'whimsy.'"
Every page features splashy color photos brimming with unusual details. Each house is worth a good half-hour study - every time you look at the pictures you find something else to oooh and ahhh about.
The first 18 pages are dedicated to the Prologue, detailing the history of the style as far back as England's Picturesque Movement of the mid 1700s.
Picturesque, incidentally, is a pretty good description of Storybook Style in a term - something that is charming or quaint with the qualities of a picture or painting.
After the all-too-brief history lesson including a photo of a stunning flowing, wrought iron masterpiece of a staircase by Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta as well as Storybook structures from Spain, Holland, the UK and Bavaria (Neuschwanstein is Storybook Style taken to a whole new level!) more houses from the USA fill the pages.
These houses are a lot like miniatures. They are "products of independent thinkers; each reflects its owner's singular ideas; and each has a colorful story to match." Sounds familiar, huh?
Custom Dolls, Houses & Miniatures / CDHM