Photos: A house fit for a Hobbit
Worlds away from the Shire, a stone cottage tucked into the Pennsylvania countryside would make Bilbo Baggins feel like he was back home with his Hobbit friends in Middle-earth.
A house fit for a Hobbit
Nestled in a part of Chester County dotted with picturesque barns and rolling fields surprisingly close to Philadelphia, this Hobbit house belongs to a lifelong fan of author J.R.R. Tolkien who wanted a worthy — and private — repository for the rare books and Tolkien-inspired memorabilia he has collected in 30 years of travel in the U.S. and abroad. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A house fit for a Hobbit
Shown is an exterior view of the "Hobbit House" Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, in Chester County, near Philadelphia. Architect Peter Archer has designed a "Hobbit House" for a lifelong fan of author J.R.R. Tolkien who wanted a worthy — and private — repository for the rare books and Tolkien-inspired memorabilia he has collected in 30 years of travel in the U.S. and abroad. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A house fit for a Hobbit
Inside the "Hobbit House" are curved arches and rafters of Douglas fir, a fireplace finished in stucco and accented with thin slices of clay tile, and plenty of shelves and ledges for the owner's library and displays of Hobbit figurines, Gandalf's staff, hooded capes, chess sets, chalices — and of course, The One Ring. The rustic structure cleverly hides its thoroughly modern heating, cooling, electrical and security systems. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A house fit for a Hobbit
Architect Peter Archer has designed a "Hobbit House" containing a world-class collection of J.R.R. Tolkien manuscripts and memorabilia. Archer worked with a team of craftsmen who used stones taken from a long-collapsed section of an 18th-century low wall running through the center of the 16-acre property. Built up against a stone retaining wall of the same vintage, the Hobbit house looks like an original feature of the property.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A house fit for a Hobbit
Shown are collectibles at the "Hobbit House" Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, in Chester County, near Philadelphia. Architect Peter Archer has designed a "Hobbit House" containing a world-class collection of J.R.R. Tolkien manuscripts and memorabilia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A house fit for a Hobbit
Architect Peter Archer has designed a "Hobbit House" containing a world-class collection of J.R.R. Tolkien manuscripts and memorabilia. A Delaware cabinet-maker built the mahogany windows, including the large arched "butterfly window" — its Art Nouveau-ish flourishes inspired by Tolkien's own drawings. The name comes from the window's appearance when open, with the two halves pushed outward from a center hinge. The roof is covered with clay tiles handmade in France. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A house fit for a Hobbit
Architect Peter Archer enters the "Hobbit House" during an interview with the Associated Press Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, in Chester County, near Philadelphia. The 54-inch diameter Spanish cedar door — naturally with a knob right in the center just as Tolkien described — opens with a single hand-forged iron hinge. Several craftsmen said they couldn't hang the 150-pound door on one hinge but a Maryland blacksmith "succeeded on the first try," Archer said. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A house fit for a Hobbit
Architect Peter Archer speaks during and interview with the Associated Press at the "Hobbit House" Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, in Chester County, near Philadelphia. Archer has designed a "Hobbit House" containing a world-class collection of J.R.R. Tolkien manuscripts and memorabilia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A house fit for a Hobbit
Shown is an exterior view of the "Hobbit House" Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, in Chester County, near Philadelphia. Architect Peter Archer has designed a "Hobbit House" containing a world-class collection of J.R.R. Tolkien manuscripts and memorabilia. "We weren't going to do a Hollywood interpretation. We wanted it to be timeless," Archer said. "It was built in 2004 but looking at it, you could think it was from 1904, or 1604." (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A house fit for a Hobbit
Shown is the lock on the front door at the "Hobbit House" Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, in Chester County, near Philadelphia. Architect Peter Archer has designed a "Hobbit House" containing a world-class collection of J.R.R. Tolkien manuscripts and memorabilia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A house fit for a Hobbit
Architect Peter Archer closes the front door of the "Hobbit House" during and interview with the Associated Press Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, in Chester County, near Philadelphia. Archer has designed a "Hobbit House" containing a world-class collection of J.R.R. Tolkien manuscripts and memorabilia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A house fit for a Hobbit
Shown is a collection of J.R.R. Tolkien books at the "Hobbit House" Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, in Chester County, near Philadelphia. Architect Peter Archer has designed a "Hobbit House" containing a world-class collection of J.R.R. Tolkien manuscripts and memorabilia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A house fit for a Hobbit
Shown is an Interior view of the "Hobbit House" Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, in Chester County, near Philadelphia. Architect Peter Archer has designed a "Hobbit House" containing a world-class collection of J.R.R. Tolkien manuscripts and memorabilia. "We wanted a single structure, a relaxing place that was diminutive in scale, for the owner to come and hang out and just be in solitude with his collection," said architect Peter Archer, speaking on the owner's behalf. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Judging part one of Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" prelude "The Hobbit" is a bit like reviewing a film after seeing only the first act.