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Wharton Mansion Dollhouse

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Built in 1852, this imposing American Greek Revival dollhouse descended through the Wharton family of Philadelphia. A genealogical history of ownership in the Wharton family history accompanies the lot. A doll mansion with a handsome façade; the Wharton dollhouse is an architectural sister to the Dundas-Lippincott House, built 1839 (demolished 1902), which stood at the northeast corner of Broad and Walnut Streets in Philadelphia. The Dundas Mansion and the dollhouse share striking architectural design similarities. The three-story, five bay Wharton dollhouse was built in the vernacular Doric Greek Revival style. Both mansions have five –bay main facades raised from ground level by eleven risers, deep architraves surround the porticoes and main house, frieze band windows at the third level, a shaped pediment which rises above the roof cornice, flat roofed colonnaded entry porches, and 6/6 window sash. A defining Greek Revival architectural detail is found on interior window and door openings. Decorative pitched crowns at the head of the windows and tapered side trim is typical throughout the house. Constructed at the end of the Greek Revival period it contains cross over Gothic revival features, pierced stair balusters and fireplace mantle brackets. Interior doors are four-paneled with operating brass hardware and porcelain knobs. The house opens from the back to reveal generously proportioned rooms. The principal level contains an entry hall with stairs, two parlors which extend the full depth of the house, two full depth chambers on the second floor and a bathing room at the end of the hall (with clothing hooks), two chambers and a stair hall on the third floor. The interior features period trim, some chair rail molding, built-in fireplaces, and baseboard. There are worn paint conditions inside and out, some redecoration done in the 1980's, including the addition of elaborate window draperies in three of the main four rooms. Two original pairs of draperies will accompany the house. The house is extensively furnished with fine antiques and a few vintage pieces, with numerous examples of Walterhausen gilt stenciled balloon-back chairs, desk, cabinet and piano, other pieces with faux rosewood graining, ten pieces of Ellis, Britton & Eaton tin furniture, an Althof Bergmann sleigh bed, other pieces of metal furniture by Stevens and others. Numerous ormolu accessories include an Ehrhard & Sohne six arm chandelier, an ormolu and glass electric chandelier and framed pictures. The house is populated by an appealing doll family, a gentleman with mutton-chops, a lady with pink luster boots and a dress accentuated with beads and an interesting headdress, a miniature Dolly Madison child, another child with pink luster garters and a small child with glazed china head and limbs. The Wharton house is accompanied by the original carriage house/stable with handsome box stalls and a steeple shaped tower for the weathervane (broken), a gate house and four sections of the compound wall. 45" W, 52" H (including base), 44" D. Good to Very Good (exterior has old repaint which is peeling, some moldings loose or missing).

Good to Very Good

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