Study for “Northern River”, 1914 - 1915 Tom Thomson, Canadian, 1877 - 1917 Gouache, brush and ink over graphite on illustration board, Overall: 30 x 26.7 cm, Purchase, 1982 2012 Art Gallery of Ontario
This poll is a celebration of fandom history; we’re aware that there are certain issues with many of the listed pairings and sources, but they are a part of that history. Please do not take this as an endorsement, and refrain from harassment.
The most expensive dolls’ house in the world, the Astolat Dollhouse Castle, created by miniaturist Elaine Diehl between 1974 and 1987. It is 9 feet in height, has 29 rooms and about
30,000 miniatures pieces in its collection, but the displays are rotated and only about 10,000 are displayed at any one time. The house was inspired by Tennyson’s ‘Lancelot and Elaine’, which begins with the words ‘Elaine the fair, Elaine the loveable, Elaine, the lily maid of Astolat’. Its’ great price (officially valued at $8.5 million) is mostly due to the unique, hand-crafted objects, many made out of costly materials such as gold and lapis lazuli and commissioned from famous artists. Furnishings include original sculptures and oil paintings, portrait miniatures, hand-sewn tapestries, silverware, a working dumbwaiter, carved mouldings, chandeliers, mirrors, inlaid bathrooms, parquet floors, and hand etched wood panels. It also contains the smallest antique Bible in the world.
