Pennsylvania Dutch Kitchen, Inspiration

What makes this piece even cooler is that it is made entirely by Mrs. Fisher. While many of the pieces were bought or gifted to her whole as they are, there are a few named pieces that Mrs. Fisher constructed herself by hand.

For the hearth, she did so by collecting rocks from her driveway and structuring them to mirror the hearths she had researched:

Notice particularly, the quote where it states, “Much of it she made herself, such as the authentic fireplace made from tiny stones in her own driveway.”

Fisher also painted a splatter-floor design, dotting different colors to mimic the staggered patterns that was favoured for how it hid messes during the period. 

A historical blog written by the Westport Historical Society explains the purpose behind the floor’s creation:

“The technique had many practical advantages: providing camouflage for dirt, inexpensive and easy to clean. It is especially well-suited to rural homesteads and managing the annual cycles of tracking in mud, snow, ice or sand. It is also well suited to the Yankee sensibility: a do-it-yourself /make-do mentality, as it required little skill, providing a way to use up left-over paint and promoting the efficient use of supplies that was far cheaper than carpet or rugs.”

This inclusion is interesting, as it points more to Fisher’s interests and design rather than historical accuracy, as it is a style derived from the early 20th century. However, it blends the cultural conversation that the Pennsylvania Dutch Kitchen embodies, and shows us the attention that Fisher was paying to the idea of what the room was capturing. 

Additionally, the spaces were comfortable and homey, with a large family table aligned with the heart, where meals were held and formal lessons for the younger children of the family taught before laws were passed later to require school-aged children to attend state schools. 

And of course, Fisher captures those details affectionately with a fully set table and small touches, like an embroidered sign of “Home Sweet Home.”

In creating her miniature, Fisher offers a glimpse into the heart of the home, where tradition is sculpted by the hard work and simple, hearty flavours come together to reveal a history.