Le Manoir

Le Manoir is a 1:12 scale replica of a famous gingerbread house in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It was built in 1979 by artisan Paul Fair.  I search for more than a year for information on Mr. Fair. Internet searches came up empty. Then, in August of 2024, as I was going through some old "Miniature Collector" Magazines that had belonged to my Grandmother, who died in 1996, I found an article on Mr. Fair featuring a story about my house! I was thrilled. I learned from the article that this was the only house that Mr. Fair made two of.  But, I was actually told when I purchased it from the original owner that there were three. My house,, one owned by the original owner's sister, and the third was in a Museum in Washington DC. According to the magazine article, the museum where one of Mr. Fair's dollhouse was held was the Washington Dolls and Dollhouse Museum. I am now on the hunt to comfirm more about exatly which house was in that museum - was it another copy of my house,  or a different house built by Mr. Fair? More research to do! 

I  have learned a lot about the original house in Haiti from which the dollhouse was modeled from publications and with the help of some online contacts. Le Manoir was built in 1903 by Eugene Maximillien for a Mr. Normil Sambourg. It is located at No. 146 Avenue John Brown in Port-au-Prince. Unfortunately, this house suffered major damage in the 2010 Haiti Earthquake. It is the subject of several articles that can be found online highlighting structural deficiencies with architecture in Haiti. There are efforts to restore the property, however, due to the civil unrest in Haiti, I am unsure of the status.  

Le Manoir is featured in a book of pen and ink drawings by Anghelen Arrington Phillips, Gingerbread Houses: Haiti's Endangered Species. The book was published in 1975. I was able to purchase a copy of this book on eBay shortly after I acquired the dollhouse. 

This front-opening dollhouse has nine rooms, shuttered doors and windows, and beautiful two-tiered porches that grace the front of the residence. Its Bishop Hat and square towers make this a very unique dollhouse. 

I am enjoying filling the house with artisan items as I acquire them. Since Haiti had a strong influence from France in the early 1900s, I am trying to include some art nouveau elements in the home's decor, which is a bit challenging given their scarcity. Enjoy the photos below and check back often, as I will update images as I make progress. 

Be sure to click "Show More" at the bottom of the page to see all the pictures. 

P.S. Please consider supporting the people in Haiti, especially the children, who are suffering greatly due to internal strife in their country. Visit Cornerstone Haiti to see how you can help. 

(Images updated 12/01/2023)