Props Historical Living (1/3+)

I thought I'd post all my (pseudo)medieval and historical prop projects in the same thread. Anything bigger than 1/4 usually requires a lot of treasure hunting, upholstering and building things from scratch which is fine since I like all that. And who knows, maybe someone learns from my mistakes. Or gets inspired to do their own projects! .

The scale of these things will be something between 1/3 and 1/2,5 - what looks the best.
Idea is to suit about 70cm dolls.


To do list:

✔ Rope Bed
✔ Removable Fireplace
(( Wooden Bathtub ))

 

Medieval Rope Bed

My dolls need something to sleep in. I could've taken the easy road and just make a straw mattress and put it on... basically anything but noooo. I wanted to try something more detailed. So, I found a nice guide how to make a simple rope bed and I though that's it! I want to try that!

This bed is made for 72cm tall doll but I think it should also fit nicely 1/3 sized dolls too.

Oh, sorry for the super yellow pictures!

Inspiration & Plans

To be honest I didn't plan much. I saw a tutorial and I thought to learn stuff while I do it. BUT here's the picture of the original rope bed the maker of the tutorial did. Neat, isn't it?
I hope my miniature bed looks even somewhat as nice.

Materials:

- 2x Broomsticks
- Cardboard boxes
- Sisal Rope
- Scissors
- Tape
- Knife of some sort

Also pen, saw and sandpaper

Jute rope might've worked, too, I think. I didn't even consider that. It's a bit softer and easier to handle than sisal rope.


First I measured the doll and decided how wide and high I wanted the bed to be. Then I cut everything in proper length and sandpapered any harsh edges. Cardboard boxes were much softer than I thought so I was generous with the tape.


Then I cut a x shapes where I wanted poles to go and shoved the poles in the holes. I also realized this bed is way lower than I meant since side poles are lower than the head and leg poles.

The cardboard box legs are a bit too wobbly so I added some stuffing in them (plastic wrap will do). Hopefully it will make them little bit more solid.
I forgot to cut the tightening pole but I did now. I think I love the broomsticks; they cost like 1€ each and two was enough for me to do all I want.


So far so good.
Then the lacing.


Oops, I didn't take any pictures while I was actually lacing.
I was scared of this part and I was right; it was scary. Time consuming and rather troublesome. I mean, I undid this thing so many times and it's still laced wrong! And I realized too late that I should've put the side poles higher than the leg and head ones.
Anyway, I decided to not to care to much and move on.


After adjustments...


... and actually tightening (that's why there's a tightening pole thing) it doesn't look that bad. Cardboard legs instead were absolutely AWFUL idea. They give in way too much which makes the tightening the lacing very difficult. Also now, the whole bed is slightly crooked and I'm not sure if they will hold the whole thing together. Stronger cardboard or even wood would be highly recommended .
I have to figure something out. I have stronger cardboard somewhere maybe I'll dig it out.

But that's for the another night. That and the bedding.

 

Thank you!

You were absolutely right; the cardboard didn't work. I moved the bed little bit and two legs gave in right away. Glue and wooden bars are be so much better idea than cardboard. I wanted to be able to dissemble this bed (to save space) so I don't think I'll glue or nail anything down. It would make the bed more durable but I can live with the wobbliness.
BUT I'll definitely make a proper wooden legs when I find and/or remember to buy a right kind of drill

 

My cardboard box legs gave in so had to think of something else.


It's still cardboard but it's so much more thicker. Hopefully it lasts little bit longer.



I cut holes to be more precis this time. So much better. The bed is a bit higher and the legs are far more sturdy. I wanted to paint the poles and the legs but my steel wool/vinegar mix isn't ready yet and my paints are... somewhere so it has to wait.


One wonderful thing about this bed is that it's very easy to storage. It has to be laced only once and all the wood and cardboard parts can be dissembled.
Like that the whole thing fits in the tiniest space.



Anyway, then the fun part: Making it actually look like a bed.


There's also nothing special in the pattern of the mattress; it's done almost similar way than couch cushions. I love it - I don't need to sew buttons or zippers or anything.

The filling was a little more problematic. Originally I wanted to stay as close to 'the real thing' as possible meaning I'd use hay as the filling (you know, the type you give to your guinea pigs and bunnies). BUT I'm super allergic to the any kind of hay so I had to settle on normal stuffing. Sad but I gotta think about my health - apparently. The stuffing makes the mattress look little bit too poofy but I'll ignore it just now.



And the finishing touches. Added some sheets, blankets, pillows, some fur pelts. I think it would look much cooler if the legs were long (so it would look like a pillar bed). Maybe I'll make the wooden versions more pillar-like



72cm doll (+ sitting image). Yes, the mattress is a bit too poofy and bit too soft but otherwise it's not that bad.


Some beautiful day when I have more energy I'll make the proper legs for this project. And I'll lace the net right. But it is not this day and I think this is fine for now.

 

@YuliyaYakuba Thanks! The cardboard legs are okay temporary solution I think

@Tornny Thank you!

@Kymera Thanks! I never know how these projects will turn out!

@Disnerys I can recommend that! It was quite easy and the bed is so easy to storage!

@Jany Ty ty! Hopefully I'll try to make the fireplace next!

 

Finally I had time and energy to start with the fireplace!

Removable fireplace (1/3+ size)

I wanted a nice historical fireplace for my dolls' display diorama thing. I didn't want it to be build-in - I want to be able to remove it when I want.



Inspiration & Plans

I wanted something simple and old, so I looked up some pictures of medieval fireplaces. I probably won't do that old fireplace but I like the simple look of the most of the older fireplaces. Like a hole in the wall type of things.

So maybe something like this or this.

Based on that vague idea I doodled a super quick measurement/idea sketch. I didn’t spent too much time on it since I know I’ll be mostly winging this whole project.



Materials:
- Hmm, not sure yet.
Cardboard, tape, glue, clay, decorative stones, paint stirring sticks, paints, varnish


The Cardboard base

Next there was some cutting and taping lots of cardboard. I don’t trust this material at all but I’m planning to give it some kind of air-drying clay cover so it has to do. Hopefully the clay will give the whole thing some weight and structure so it won’t be so flimsy.


Measuring and eyeballing the size to look nice with 70cm doll and drawing some guidelines. There’s going to be a foundation, a firebox, mantelpiece and some chimney thing.


Adjusted some measurement to be more pleasing to the eye and taped the walls of firebox on place. I also added a quick separate chimney. It's separate for storage reasons.

It doesn’t look much yet but hopefully it will in couple of days (or so). Sorry for my chimney being a fan box

 

AmariGem: Haha! Well it could be very badly located chamber pot, but I was thinking about just a regular washing pitcher.

Anyway!!
I’ve completely forgotten my fireplace thingy until I started to clear out some closets, and I decided that it deserved to be finished!

So I finished it.



I covered everything with air drying clay. Originally I thought I’d sand it down but I actually like it better uneven like this. Looks more organic somehow.


The top of the fireplace is made of paint stirring stick things. They were cheap and I knew I had to paint them anyway so the logos didn’t bother me that much



Then I took it outside and painted the firebox to look used. It actually pretty much looks like the chimney isn’t working at all buuuut it’s fine. Also it’s spray paint - it won’t come off. Added some more soot (black powdered pastel) on the edges of the fire box, I wanted to look quite old and messy.



I played around a little bit with the decorative stones, to add a stone base or no, but ultimately chose against it. The stones were nice looking but it didn’t somehow fit with the plastered look of the rest of the fireplace. Maybe if I went more with the witchy cottage look.

Anyway, time for some more “soot” and painted the top. Originally I thought about regular varnish but with the clay and the material of the paint stirring stick I decided to paint with just acrylics.


Done! It could look even more worn out but I think I’m done for now. I also ditched the chimney breast.





Finishing touches (some wood and decorations) and doll comparison. She’s ⅓ scale (60cm) and he’s around 70cm.


Now all I have to do is to learn how to take nice candle light pictures.

 

@JJ3_dolls I absolutely don't mind! I think it was worth of effort!