Our Papin-Schramm Dollhouse Restoration
Before and after
One of the favorite objects for visitors to the the mansion is the late 19th century FAO Schwarz dollhouse in the children's bedroom on the second floor donated to the foundation by Julie Vion Papin. She and her husband, Bernard Schramm, helped restore the Jean Baptiste Valle house in Ste. Genevieve, another piece of Creole history. The dollhouse, however, was in sad condition. This past winter was the perfect time to make the dollhouse more accessible to visitors while bringing it back to its original naïve grandeur.
After discovering what appeared to be the dollhouse maker's signature and a paper label and part or serial number on the underside of the first floor, we contacted FAO Schwarz, but they were unable to provide any information on the house's creator or it's provenance before the Schramms because the present company had been bought and sold so many times that its toy records had been lost.
Our restoration staff started with some crucial structural and cosmetic fixes to the facade. Mending and swapping broken and missing wooden pieces on the front was key to getting the house looking shipshape again. The entire structure between the windows on the right side of the house's first floor was missing, as was trim above the front door. Reshaping the copper sheet and steel pin hinges on the first and second floor made opening the front of the dollhouse and rehanging the doors possible. Sourcing (at Schaefer's Hobby Shop) and crafting replacement basswood trim for the missing window pieces really revived the original character and elegance of the house.
Then came color! Someone had attempted touching up the front of the house with a whitewash-like paint, so we needed to play detective to match the original medium yellow and light green paints – a perfect way to honor the period. Once we analysed and experimented with the hues, repainting the front and carefully re-establishing those corner quoin, window, and door trim lines added the necessary crisp detail. We left the attempts at exerior decorating on the sides and the back as is, not wishing to over-restore the 150 year-old dollhouse. (FAO Schwarz was founded in Baltimore in 1862 and opened its store in New York city in 1870).
Repairing the front wall of the house, showing the original wallpaper
Moving inside, giving the existing curtains some TLC, finding modern lace replacements for those missing, "aging" them in a tea solution, and then putting them all back in place added a final touch of cozy authenticity.
Finally, we installed clear acrylic rods between floors to "explode" the house, showcasing each floor's interior while maintaining the shape of the mansard roofed dwelling – a modern touch that enhances the viewer's experience.
Repairing our 1876 Carriage House Doorframe
Here follows a tale of two eras colliding. We've just finished the restoration of our 1863 Carriage House doorframe, which underwent repairs back in 1963 when Fred Weber helped us restore the Carriage House. Peeling back those layers has revealed some surprising secrets.
When investigating some stubborn hinges, we found a layer of seriously rotten wood lurking behind the bottom ones. To get a real look at what we were dealing with, those 1963 trim pieces had to come off. This gave us access to the original fastenings of the 1863 frame.
Preparing the frame for removal
We carefully removed the bottom 18 inches of the original doorframe. As we worked on the opening itself, we discovered that the original 1863 brick had crucrumbled into dust. We replaced that dusty brick with super-durable, ground-contact treated heart pine.
what we discovered behind the frame
We scarfed in a new bottom section of hardwood (using a mahogany-like sapele), creating a strong, almost invisible joint with the existing upper frame and refastening it to the sound upper portion of the original 1863 frame.
Mortising the bottom hinge into the frame allowed us to rehang the door in its original position with its circa 1963 hardware. We then restored or replaced the trim pieces respecting both eras of the doorframe's history.
The restored frame with a new threshold
To complete the revival, a brand new threshold was created before a fresh coat of paint on the entire doorframe tied everything together, protecting for years to come the door we use multiple times each and every day.
Volute Repair
Remember those summer winds we had last August? Mother Nature had a targeted strike in mind for the mansion – specifically, one of the elegant Ionic columns gracing the back of the house.
For those unfamiliar, the Ionic column is a cornerstone of classical architecture, known for its graceful proportions and, most notably, the volute. Think of it as a sophisticated, spiral scroll nestled at the top of the column's capital – a real architectural flourish. And wouldn't you know it, one of these beauties decided to take an unscheduled detour during the storm!
A volute at the capitol of one of our Ionic columns
We discovered the fallen volute the day after the storm. It was a tangible piece of history, right there on the ground. These volutes aren't just decorative; they're integral to the character and style of our Greek Revival mansion.
Enter Todd Whaley, a friend of Peter Wollenberg from Wollenberg Building Conservation, and quite the architectural superhero! Armed with a towering 32-foot ladder and a very positive attitude, Todd stepped in to rescue our wayward volute.
His mission wasn't a simple glue job. First, he meticulously cleaned away any rotten wood that had succumbed to time and the elements. Then came the careful repair work, using epoxy and even adding new pieces of wood where needed, breathing new life into the damaged scroll. Finally, he prepped it for its ascent back to its rightful place, drilling holes for the crucial screws that would secure it.
A feat of daring-do by Todd Whaley
The image of Todd scaling that ladder, the volute held securely in one hand, is one we won't soon forget. With adhesive applied to both the volute and the capital, he skillfully aligned and fastened it back into position. As a final touch, he even painted the exposed wood, ensuring a seamless restoration.
Remarkably, Todd accomplished this incredible feat at a cost of less than 10% of the quotes we received from local large construction companies with their scafolding and hydralic lifts! It's a testament to the value of old-time cleverness, can-do craftsmanship, and the generosity of friends and dedicated preservationists.
So, the next time you're admiring the details of our Greek Revival treasure, take a closer look at the Ionic columns on the back. You'll not only see the elegant volutes in all their glory but also the story of a little architectural drama and the remarkable friends who helped us put that spiral back in its rightful place.
What are they?
Delve into the past with us! This intriguing detail is captured from an object within our collection at the Chatillon-DeMenil House. Can you identify what these objects are and perhaps even their purposes within the history of the House?
Bonus: Do you have any memories or associations with similar items? Share your thoughts with us by sending us an email to info@demenil.org and we will share responses on our Facebook page!