miniatures

JoEllen Kerwin

JoEllen Kerwin is a painter and skilled miniaturist whose work serves both artistic and historicalpurposes. Each of her structures creates a sense of place for those who visit her tiny worlds. Read more about JoEllen’s fascinating creations in the HOME issue of our magazine.

the thorne rooms

It was in the window of an antique shop in Rome where inspiration for the Thorne Rooms, one of Chicago’s most beloved treasures, struck.  During a trip in 1930, Mrs. James Ward Thorne spotted two miniature chandeliers made of bronze and semi-precious stones. An avid collector of miniatures since she …

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