Museum of Miniatures Pt. 1: The Kathleen Savage Browning Collection

Summer is finally here—the official season of both the road trip and the getaway. There’s no better time to take a “little” vacation? (pun intended). In the spirit of summer, we are featuring a short series of posts that will spotlight the absolute best miniatures museums from around the world. We have chosen each of these places because of their rich, unique collections of upscale miniature pieces by some of the most established miniaturists of all time. Needless to say, each and every one of these places is more than worth the visit.

The Kathleen Savage Browning collection at the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center is the perfect museum to start off this series. This museum boasts one of the largest, most extensive personal collections of exquisite 1/12th scale pieces of all time.

Kaye Savage Browning, the collection’s proprietor and owner, has been collecting miniatures since 1974. Since then, she has traveled the world in search of the finest miniature creations.

In 2007, Ms. Savage Browning opened the 3300 square foot gallery in order to share her collection with the public—the collection has grown to include thousands of miniatures, roomboxes, homes and exhibits.

Visitors of all ages will enjoy viewing discussing the many historically accurate miniature replicas pieces, which depict objects and scenes from a wide array of time periods, and preserve important cultural sites in miniature.

The museum is also home to a number of rare exhibit pieces, such as the Spencer House—a 1/12th replica of the ancestral home of Lady Diana, the Princess of Wales, created by famed miniature artisans, Mulvany and Rogers. Each and every detail of the 18th century replica has been created by hand in an exact likeness of the historical landmark in London.

Mrs. Savage Browning’s collection is truly quite remarkable in every sense of the word. The museum is an absolute must-see for all who love miniatures, from the casual collector, to the ardent miniaturist.

The museum is located at 215 Sutton Street in Maysville, Kentucky and is open to the public Tuesday-Friday from 10am until 4pm, and Saturday from 10 to 3. You can also visit the collection’s website for more information or check out the KSB Blog to read some great posts about the collection and other miniature topics.

(Photo Credits: Pinterest, KSB Collection Website, American Towns, Cincinatti Magazine, Facebook)

Miniature Icons: Traditional v. New School

For much of it’s history, upscale, collectible miniature art has been primarily focused on creating miniature works that replicate Victorian style and early 20th century architecture, art, clothing and the like—after all, the dollhouse and the practice of creating miniatures were founded during this era. Traditional miniaturists focus on preserving this style through their work, often replicating full sized pieces from the time period in 1:12 scale. Some of the masters of this tradition spend their entire careers meticulously researching and designing and crafting ornate pieces which are reminiscent of times past.

One notable master of the “old” style, is Peter Acquisto, who is known for his precise 1:12 (and 1:24) scale reproductions of antique silver pieces.

Geoffrey Wonnacott is another master who makes exquisite miniature furniture that is often sourced from reclaimed antiques.

Henry Kupjack is yet another example of an artist who has really mastered this style. His magnificent to-scale room “boxes” replicate scenes from the 19th and early 20th century.

However, while the more traditional works are what come to mind when many of us think of miniatures, there is also a growing group of miniaturists who are defining themselves as distinctively “new-school.” These designers focus on creating modern and contemporary style miniature pieces that are reminiscent of the design styles that have been prominent from the 1950’s to today.

Michael Yurkovic is perhaps one of the biggest names when it comes to new style miniatures. Founder of the Atomic Miniature, his pieces replicate the brightly colored, clean, modern designs of the 1950s and 60’s.

Similarly, miniature potter John Almeda creates high-quality miniature pots, vases and bowls that are uniquely modern.

Finding artists who are focused on contemporary miniature style is a bit more rare, but artist Sae Nakagawa’s clean, rustic, minimalist designs have really set the bar for this style.

Do you prefer the traditional or the contemporary? Who are you favorite icons of these styles? Let us know in the comments below!

(Photo Credits: Pinterest, Good Sam Showcase of Miniatures, Charitybuzz, IGMA, Instagram)

Miniatures and the Fairy Trend

The next time you go for a walk, pay very close attention and you might just stumble across a tiny door built into the counter at your favorite coffee shop or the trunk of a tree in a local park. These ornate miniature doors have become an international trend in recent years, captivating audiences of all ages. Needless to say, the pint-sized doors have also caught the attention of a number of miniaturists. So, from the history to the legends, here is a basic guide to the elegant world of fairy miniatures.

Fairies

Though the exact origins of the fairy are unknown, the fairy as we know it today has been primarily shaped by Celtic and Scandinavian legend. Traditional folklore tells us that fairies are tiny, human-like beings with magical powers that inhabit secret, hidden, communities within our world, existing along side other magical beings like gnomes and elves, to collectively form what is known as the Fairy Realm. Legend has it that fairy doors are portals to the fairy realm, which can only be seen by those who believe in magic.

Tiny Doors

The first fairy doors were crafted in the Victorian era when the idea of the dollhouse and miniature art in general was first popularized. Traditionally, fairy doors were built into the trunks of trees, as fairies were fabled to have built their homes in hollowed trees.

The craft experienced a reprise when, in 2005, handcrafted miniature doors began appearing all around Ann Arbor, Michigan. While local artist Jonathan B. Wright created many of the first doors, the trend quickly caught on and soon, the doors could be found in both wooded, and urban areas around the country.

Today, the craft has become a true art form, as artists work to create doors that are increasingly elaborate and complex. Some of the best places to see their craftsmanship are New York City, San Francisco and, of course, Ann Arbor. When you find one, be sure to look inside—the custom is to leave little slips of paper with wishes written on them just inside of the door in hopes that the fairy will grant the wish. Sometimes the artists also hide little secrets behind the doors, like miniature scenes featuring fairy figurines.

Fairies and the Miniature World

Fairy doors fall into the larger, umbrella genre of fairy miniatures. As fairies are miniature beings, it is not surprising that a number of miniaturists are interested in creating fairy themed pieces. In addition to the creation of fairy doors, some miniaturists create fairy houses—which obviously do not fit the traditional definition of a 1:12 scale miniature house, but which are beautifully crafted in a similar fashion.

Fairy gardens are another popular fairy-themed endeavor for hobbyists. Fairy gardens are tiny creations that attempt to incorporate ideal fairy villages or scenes into gardens, which mimic the forest in which fairies mythically reside.

This concept is made even smaller by the idea of fairy jars, in which miniature fairy scenes are created inside of mason jars or even tiny bottles to be worn on the end of a necklace. This is meant to imitate the idea of catching a fairy to keep in the home, another popular folklore tradition.

What do you think? Are fairies becoming a legitimate subculture in the world of miniatures? Or is this just fleeting trend?

(Resource Credits: Jennifer Hunter, Urban Fairies, The Guardian, ABC News, Wikipedia: Fairies; Photo Credits: The Captive Robin, J. Cass)