In Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, the ceiling and arched coving of the Saloon were decorated by the artist Charles Sims, Keeper of the Royal Academy at the time. This decorative scheme also has an allegorical function, providing a light-hearted warning about the dangers of idle gossip, which would be particularly suitable for those conversing in the Saloon. 

A trellis is painted on the three sides of the arched coving, across which nymphs scamper, turning backwards and forwards to whisper and receive secrets. These are the daughters of Rumour, with her many tongues, eyes and ears. In the centre of the ceiling, Sims paints a fictive oculus through which the sky and clouds can be seen, with a colourful group of people looking down through it. These figures might represent the conversations that never disappear, that watch over you. Finally, the other ceiling panels include depictions of a weeping angel and a dragon, which are symbolic of the dangerous consequences of gossip. The scheme as a whole reflects Sims’s fascination with the mystical and arcane, as well as his desire to capture his own troubling visions. He also painted in a more conventional manner, however, producing a portrait of King George V the following year.