英国退休老人26年时间打造高仿真娃娃屋
A proud pensioner has spent 26 years creating the ultimate life-like dolls house.
一名充满活力的退休老人花费26年的时间打造出了一座高仿真娃娃屋。
Leonard Martin constructed the intricate house from scratch as a way to fill his time.
But he soon became hooked and started to make it as real looking as possible, spending £6,000 on the masterpiece.
Now, the 6ft-long labour of love has six lavish rooms complete with cavity walls, marble and wood floors, soft furnishings and one-of-a-kind artwork.
The 70-year-old said: "It is unbelievable, if I even say so myself."
Ceilings are painted plaster, which have been gilded with 24ct gold leaf, while the chandeliers feature £100 worth of Swarovski crystals.
Each wooden floorboard is individually laid and French polished and each room is delicately illuminated by tiny electric lights and glowing fireplaces.
He even commissioned a friend of a friend, famous for creating the artwork in King Farouk's palace in Egypt, to paint the delicate works of art for each room.
Leonard said: "I had it on display for the public to raise money for the local village hall then I had to move it back to my work shop where it's still sitting on a table.
"It took four people to lift it into place so it won't be moving any time soon! I have also built a fantastic funfair, it took me seven years.
"I'm 70 now so I'm a bit too old to do it, I would make more houses if I had somewhere to put them, but they are so big and too heavy to do now."
Leonard hopes to sell the house to a stately home or something similar to preserve it - even putting a miniature 'for sale' sign on the front lawn.