Vintage 1959 M Borrie 3D Paper Tole Dollhouse Plaque Deerfield MA Miniature Art 6.5 In

Vintage 1959 M Borrie 3D Paper Tole Dollhouse Plaque Deerfield MA Miniature Art 6.5 In

✨ Cabinet Curiosity No. 426 | The Deerfield Dollhouse Parlor

During the mid-20th century revival of early American craft arts, the historic village of Deerfield, Massachusetts, became a vibrant hub for artisans, miniaturists, and folk art collectors. Among the most intricate decorative disciplines of the era was paper tole, the delicate art of hand-cutting, shaping, and stacking multiple paper prints in relief to create lifelike three-dimensional miniature dioramas.

Mounted on a beveled, warm walnut-stained solid wood plaque measuring approximately 6 1/2 by 4 3/4 inches, this charming dimensional artwork is signed in the plate at the lower right: "M. Borrie." The artist’s nostalgic cross-section dollhouse illustrations were so beloved that decades later, designer Anna Griffin licensed and reproduced this exact Borrie dollhouse image for her celebrated "Always Anna" stationery collection.

The artwork depicts an open cross-section of a multi-story Victorian dollhouse with sage-green clapboard siding and an attic mansard roof. The upper floor reveals an attic nursery with a four-poster canopy bed, rocking chair, and dormer windows. The ground floor features a cozy parlor with a roaring fireplace, painted corner cupboards, and a colonial staircase. Seated gracefully on the parlor rug in the foreground is a Victorian-style china doll in a tiered coral-red gown, taking tea beside a miniature wooden drop-leaf table set with a porcelain teapot and cup.

Using traditional paper tole technique, the dollhouse facade, dormers, doll, and tea table are physically sculpted in layered cut-paper relief that projects forward from the surface, coated in a protective clear gloss decoupage glaze.

Turned over, the reverse bears exceptional local New England provenance: hand-inscribed in period ink by previous owner "Ruth Nau, Athol, Ma." alongside an authentic vintage gummed consignment label reading "Deerfield Mass / Aug 1959 / 360041 / $3.95."

A captivating, display-ready treasure for dollhouse enthusiasts, miniature collectors, paper tole artisans, and lovers of mid-century New England folk art.

The Vintage Pedigree & Artistry
Artist: M. Borrie (Signed lower right corner).

Era: Dated August 1959 on original verso label (Mid-Century Vintage).

Provenance: Purchased in Deerfield, Massachusetts; inscribed by owner Ruth Nau of Athol, Massachusetts.

Technique: Layered 3D paper tole / dimensional decoupage on wood.

Materials: Printed paper, dimensional spacers, gloss glaze, solid wood plaque.

Form: Beveled rectangular wood wall plaque with recessed hanging groove/surface.

📺 Styling & Display Ideas
Dollhouse Collector Vignette: Display on a small brass easel atop a dollhouse, curio cabinet, or miniature collector shelf.

Gallery Wall Accent: Incorporate into a salon-style gallery wall of vintage folk art, botanical prints, and silhouette portraits.

Nursery or Craft Room Accent: Hang beside a sewing station or vintage toy display for a touch of storybook nostalgia.

🔍 Specifications, Materials & Condition

Measurements
Height: Approximately 6 1/2" tall
Width: Approximately 4 3/4" wide
Depth: Approximately 1/2" profile including 3D relief

Materials: Wood, paper, gloss glaze.

Condition Transparency: Very good authentic vintage condition. The solid wood plaque is structurally sound with clean beveled edges and rich stain. The paper tole relief elements are firmly intact with excellent dimensional depth and no missing components. The printed colors remain warm, vibrant, and unfaded beneath their original clear decoupage glaze. The reverse retains its original 1959 handwritten Deerfield label and Ruth Nau inscription with honest, expected paper toning and light handling wear.

Care: Keep dry and display away from high-humidity areas (such as bathrooms). Dust gently with a clean, dry, soft camel-hair brush or low-pressure air. Do not wipe with water or cleaning chemicals.

A Note About Vintage Items & Their Little Crimes
Many of the treasures at Honeyblue Hollow come from estate sales, flea markets, and consignment shops where interesting things wait to begin their next chapter. Because they existed long before they found me, their pasts are checkered.

Vintage means used: Expect honest, authentic character consistent with age and previous love.

The Smell & Storage Factor: My workspace is pet-friendly and smoke-free. Buyers with extreme sensitivities should review the full Vintage Items & Allergens note in my Shop Announcement.

Storied Vintage. Curated with Intention.