The Penthouse, Inspiration

As for its introduction into the U.S., it was largely through Hollywood’s influences, which painted the burgeoning middle class as worldly without ever having to leave the home. 

Of the many features, rooms would contain pagoda-style architecture and gilded finishes. The art or paintings would capture dream-like landscapes of the countryside, and figurines would span from dragons and animals to people's depictions.

Whereas the parlor room was to display a social reputation and level of wealth, these rooms were intended as a performance of global awareness to a point, though they lacked much if any grounding in the realities of Eastern culture. 

As for Mrs. Fisher’s dollhouse, the Penthouse space conveys a strong tone of cultural hybridity and curated identity.

As mentioned, with its golden wallpaper, pagoda-style framing of the window, and inclusion of figurines and instruments—such as the gong—the idea of the room at once suggests refinement of its imaginary globetrotters: or at the very much, the idea of wanting to be seen that way. 

For, at the same time, there are clear Western distinctions at play in the rotary phone, modern style chairs, and grandfather clock, pointing to a mid-century American vision. 

There is even a conenction between the Victorian room and this one: a forgotten newspaper!

These balances offer an interesting insight into a design that still has so many impressions on our design today!