Collector/dealer Pat Hatch, well known for her extraordinary black doll collection, has been selling some small things at an antiques shop I heavily frequent in Maine; I scooped up several pieces from her this week, including this little carved cottage in polychrome and a second tin house too. I just couldn't resist this--feels about as akin to a gingerbread house as a carved folk art house/bank could, and the love and attention to detail invested in it, down to each little carved and painted square on the lattice below the porch, just completely won my heart. It is fairly small in scale, but feels quite large in presence. Scratch made, all wood, with each bit carved by hand. For me it evinces a whole fairly tale world filled with cheerful cottages with checkerboard roofs--really quite transportive! And the front door opens in a welcoming way--also serving as the means of collecting the loot!
7" t x 5 3/8" w x 5 3/4" d. Beautiful condition, wonderfully constructed, early 20th century I believe.
