If you are a dreamer, come in. I’m reminded of that first line in the opening poem of Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends, the iconic children’s book so many of us 1970s kids grew up with, as I share something the dreamers among us are sure to love: this one-of-a-kind dollhouse created by Lucy Clayton of the U.K.-based Kensington Dollshouse Company.
It’s not just any dollhouse, but a fanciful solution for storing (and displaying) the Triptych collection, the latest from jewelry designer Cece Fein Hughes—the talent behind Cece Jewellery, a longtime JCK editor favorite. Named Cece’s World, the three-room dollhouse is “furnished” with Triptych lockets, pendants, rings, and bracelets, many of which are detailed with Hughes’ signature champlevé enamel.
“I see this as the ultimate jewelry box to safe-keep all the secret treasures one collects over time,” she explains.
“Our process is intricate and meticulous, requiring patience and precision. There are so many parallels with the craftsmanship behind Cece Jewellery, making this collaboration feel completely natural,” Hughes adds.
Every room in the dollhouse presents a unique story, with the images depicted on the showcased Triptych pieces connecting to the interiors they inhabit. “Each of these rooms is so evocative and atmospheric, telling a distinctive story that mirrors the narrative of Cece’s jewelry,” says Clayton. “There is always something precious about a doll’s house, but this one is particularly special.”
With that, if you will permit me to invoke the title of Todd Solondz’s 1995 black comedy, welcome to the dollhouse. (Yes, I realize that film and Cece’s World could not be more diametrically opposed in terms of subject matter and aesthetic!) Let’s wander the chambers and discover its hidden treasures.
Earthly Delights (pictured at top)
Gothic tracery frames a window with spying eyes. A tangle of vines and roses envelop the space, providing a kind of nest for the treasures. An Empire crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling while a plinth holds Cece’s golden chalice triptych pendant. A Louis XVI chair, upholstered in vintage green silk, is a natural resting place for a Cece olive branch pendant and a diamond bangle.
The Underworld
The vibe of a Vermeer painting envelops the room: A banquet table laden with overripe fruit and untouched goblets, a Georgian fireplace, a smashed gilt mirror, and a pair of griffins on the mantel set the stage for a scene of decadence and mystery. Cece pendants dangle from Charles II hall chairs while a ring sits at the base of a Louis XIV candelabra. In the foreground, off to the right, you’ll see a wine crate with a pair of skulls.
The Realm of Dreams
A forgotten ballet studio is home to a grand piano, mirrors foxed with age, and a brass-fitted barre. Cece jewels are strewn about, like props or costumes from a long-ago performance. You can imagine the scent of vintage silk—the ribbons that tied up dancers’ pointe shoes—and the music, laughter, and movement that might have filled this dream-like space, all of it dimly lit with a rose-gold chandelier accented with finials shaped like swans.
Top: The Earthly Delights room from Cece’s World, a one-of-a-kind dollhouse/jewelry box created by Kensington Dollshouse Company that holds Triptych pieces by Cece Jewellery, is a celebration of storytelling, craftsmanship, and hidden wonders (price on request).
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