NEW YORK — It’s a grand dining room inside a beautiful estate. Not a real estate listing, though the idea of a dinner party there may look appealing. It's not that it wouldn't fit your budget, but a person really wouldn't fit inside. It's a 10-room dollhouse, a miniature Venetian Palazzo, created by Joanna Fisher at her life-size residence while homebound during the pandemic.

What You Need To Know

  • The Fisher Dollhouse: A Venetian Palazzo in Miniature is on display at The Museum of Arts and Design in Midtown through Sept. 26

  • It was created by Joanna Fisher of Manhattan while she was homebound during the COVID-19 pandemic 

  • It is inspired by the glamourous Gritti Palace in Venice

  • A dozen artists from around the world created miniature works of art and furnishings for the dollhouse 

"I needed something to occupy my time and my hands and use some of my creativity, I had knitted enough blankets and needlepoint and so many pillows that I had to come up with something new," Fisher said.

The 10 room dollhouse was created by Joanna Fisher during the pandemic. Photo by Roger Clark

What she came up with is now on display at the Museum of Arts and Design in Midtown through September 26.

Fisher, a longtime supporter of the arts, filled the house with miniature art works, crafts and furnishings, many made by artists she knew from around the world.

"People really needed something to take them away from reality, I mean the reality for everyone was not a wonderful time or place so I think everyone wanted to enjoy something fun out of a fantasy world actually," said Fisher, who also crafted some of the items in the house herself, including designing and needlepointing some tiny rugs.

Curator and Design Historian Caroline Hannah says Fisher’s creation is an example of how dollhouses have a history of being more than just something for children to play with.

The dollhouse features rooms full of miniature art works, crafts and furnishings. Photo by Roger Clark

"The longer history dating back to the 17th Century and even a little earlier and even a little earlier, it's really about display, and about craftsmanship, and about collecting, and that is exactly what this dollhouse is all about," Hannah said.

Even though the mini palazzo looks like it has plenty of items, there's more than 400, Fisher is already thinking about additions for when it comes back to her.

“That house will get some more things, I'm still thinking and creating things for the house that's on display, so it's not nearly finished yet actually," Fisher said.

If you want to see the Fisher Dollhouse up close, plan your visit at madmuseum.org.