Louise Olsen, Liane Rossler and Stephen Ormandy of Dinosaur Designs formed a partnership in 1982 while studying painting at art school in Sydney. They sold their first hand-painted fimo and wood jewellery from a stall in Sydney's Paddington Markets and then began experimenting with jewellery in brightly-coloured moulded resin.

The mouldable qualities of this versatile material enabled increased production in more diverse forms and the trio developed a distinctive style of chunky jewellery in luminous colours that remains popular to this day. Dinosaur Designs was established in 1985 and since then the company has expanded its production to include resin tablewares, accessories, ceramic bowls and glass vases retailed through three outlets in Sydney and Melbourne. A Dinosaur Designs retail store designed by award-winning Australian architect Sam Marshall is soon to open in New York and the company's products are also retailed internationally through selected department stores and boutiques in 12 countries.

As well as designing products for general retail, Dinosaur Designs also work to commission including a major chandelier installation for the Strand Arcade, Sydney, acquired by the Powerhouse in 2001 (2001/50/1).

The doll's house was made as an auction item at a charity function to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation of New South Wales. Other doll's houses were contributed by fashion designer Akira Isogawa and jewellery maker Victoria Springs. The Dinosaur Designs doll's house, with its charming, tiny resin furniture and fittings, demonstrates yet another application of this versatile material as well as the imagination and creativity of the company's designers.

Designed by Louise Olsen, Liane Rossler and Stephen Ormandy of Dinosaur Designs,Sydney for auction at a charity function to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation of NSW in November 2001.

Made by Dinosaur Designs, Sydney.

Designed and made by Dinosaur Designs, Sydney, 2001.

The doll's house is virtually unused because it was made specifically for the auction at which it was acquired by the donor who donated it soon after.

Bought by the donor at a Leukaemia Foundation of NSW charity auction at the Regent Hotel, Sydney in November 2001 and thence offered to the Powerhouse.

Doll's house and contents, acrylic/ synthetic resin/ mixed media, designed and made by Louise Olsen, Liane Rossler and Stephen Ormandy of Dinosaur Designs, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2001.

Doll's house made of white sheet acrylic, the sides and back enclosed, the front with double doors featuring rectangular cut-outs and enclosing four levels interconnected by steps at right-hand side. The lower first level fitted with a bathroom on the left and 'sunroom' on right. The second level a 1960s-style bedroom complete with miniature double bed and fabric bedspread, resin furniture, vases and tableware, a resin chandelier, 'shag-pile' rug and brightly-coloured wallpaper. The third level fitted as a combination dining/sitting room with resin furniture, vases and tableware, a 'shag-pile' rug and 'op art' print on back wall. The upper level an open roof garden with resin furniture and pots containing artificial cactii.

Designed: Olsen, Louise; Sydney; 2001

Designed: Rossler, Liane; Sydney; 2001

Designed: Ormandy, Stephen; Sydney; 2001

Designed: Dinosaur Designs; Sydney

Made: Dinosaur Designs; Sydney; 2001

See part records for marks.

2003/21/1

2001