Size of a Miniature

[Richard Hodsdon]

Hi guys
The topic and demonstration of our monthly meeting yesterday (Sat 15th) was turning miniatures.
The question came up "what size is considered a miniature" is there an agreed size? We've all seen the competitions /project where we start with a 150mm(6 inch) or 100mm (4 inch) cube and have to turn something from that, I definitely wouldn't consider those sizes miniatures.
Is there an agreed size below which a jury/judge consider a miniature? Consensus at the meeting seems to point to a 50mm cube being a miniature.

Any thought on the matter

 

[Alan Weinberg]

Can’t answer your question but I think this qualifies. It is in Ellsworth’s collection, gifted to him. Goblet with captured ring, about 1/2 inch in height.

 

[Gabriel Hoff]

Hi guys
The topic and demonstration of our monthly meeting yesterday (Sat 15th) was turning miniatures.
The question came up "what size is considered a miniature" is there an agreed size? We've all seen the competitions /project where we start with a 150mm(6 inch) or 100mm (4 inch) cube and have to turn something from that, I definitely wouldn't consider those sizes miniatures.
Is there an agreed size below which a jury/judge consider a miniature? Consensus at the meeting seems to point to a 50mm cube being a miniature.

Any thought on the matter

Anything below 1 inch is a miniature in my mind. I make boxes and most all of them are 2.25" or less and I definitely don't consider them mini's. So your clubs consensus saying a 50mm cube is miniature might be too big for some, it just depends....

 

[Richard Coers]

Like asking how tall is tall, how big is big, what is art, etc.. It's what the club wants to call it.

 

[hockenbery]

Miniature is more about scale than absolute size
I think a miniature has a size instantly recognized as too small to be used or representative of being a small object.

For a club competition you should make some fixed dimensions. Standard dollhouse scale is 1 inch per foot.
2” per foot might be a candidate for your club.

Everyone knows bonsai trees are miniature representations of their species but some are 15 feet tall.

 

[Daniel Bartlett]

Instagram/p/CrXrcX2Mzp9/?image_index=1

Hopefully the link works

 

[Dennis Weiner]

If you were to do a club collaboration, everything should be on the same scale. Especially if you were working on a diorama or a dollhouse with furniture and architectural elements. If a standard dollhouse scale was specified(1"=1 foot), a small kitchen table dimensions of 36" x 60" or 3'x5'. Made to scale the table would measure out 3" x 5". Have fun turning some soup bowls that are 6" wide by 4" deep. To scale they would be 1/2 inch in diameter! People turn this stuff! For sure, the staircase components are turned to scale. The important thing to note is that each piece yields the proper size perspective when shown on a unified scale.

 

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Yes proportions are important IMO.
As for sizes, a vase would be taller than a box of course.
Even a 3 inch platter can be a miniature, just as shown here.
The use of a dime or quarter coin for size comparison is useful as well.
The dime here is barely big enough to hold 3 small pieces shown here.

For a competition there should be max sizes set for length and width in my opinion.

 

[J. Paul Fennell]

Miniatures mean that you have to make your own set of tools. Or, it can mean a challenge of making in a vastly smaller scale, but retaining the properties of form, proportion and balance,
And not having to think you will run out of wood!


(And yes, the one on the penny has a ring).
Early days, when everything was a challenge...JPF

 

[john lucas]

Well there's miniature as in doll house scale. And then there is really small. I don't have any photos of my really tiny work on my phone. I'll try to get on tge computer tomorrow find the images.

 

[john lucas]

I can't find the photo of my smallest all by itself. It's in this photo. It's .023" tall. yes it's ugly but the stem is .005" thick and the width of the goblet is only about .015" wide. Hard to control the shape on those dimensions.

 

[Michael Anderson]

Love it John. That background goblet looks massive in comparison!

 

[john lucas]

Love it John. That background goblet looks massive in comparison!

The background goblet is doll house scale. 1" =1 foot

 

[john lucas]

Had to make special tools when I got down really small. Made a tiny tool rest and my smallest skews were made from .008 and .012" piano wire inserted in 1/4" handles.

 

[Tom Gall]

Had to make special tools when I got down really small. Made a tiny tool rest and my smallest skews were made from .008 and .012" piano wire inserted in 1/4" handles.

Sheesh!!!, John. I would have trouble seeing/reading the ruler!

 

[hockenbery]

Had to make special tools when I got down really small. Made a tiny tool rest and my smallest skews were made from .008 and .012" piano wire inserted in 1/4" handles.

John these are great!

Where are your calipers

 

[john lucas]

John these are great!

Where are your calipers

The smallest on was measured on a microscope at school that has scales. Too fragile to measure with calipers.

 

[Dennis Weiner]

In work, scale 1" = 1 foot dollhouse
custom spiral staircase with turned elements and helix stairwell.

 

[Gabriel Hoff]

I can't find the photo of my smallest all by itself. It's in this photo. It's .023" tall. yes it's ugly but the stem is .005" thick and the width of the goblet is only about .015" wide. Hard to control the shape on those dimensions.

That is ridiculously small John!! I need to try this haha.....

 

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Of coarse it isn't about how small you can make the turnings, just small and so one can see what the turning is, and there is where the right proportions are important.

And yes to turn small you need tools that are small, small toolrest so you can get close enough with the small tools, simple wooden handles, or even none, I used copper pipe for ferules on the wooden handels

The steel the tools are made of is not that important, just a nail will do, if you can get it sharp it will do, as there is hardly any wood to be cut/removed.

I did use concrete nails and long screwdriver bits and other steel material we pretty well al have sitting around our shops, and those are good steel I you want to use them more often.

 

[Richard Hodsdon]

thanks guys for the input.
It seems other than the turning to scale for Dolls houses , there is no consensus other than it must be small and in proportion to be considered a miniature. and also you need special tools to make then. I have a couple of Allen Keys which I use and some 6mm M2 drill rod which I've ground into skews and scrapers etc. Some of the pieces done by John and Leo are phenomenal
Below are some shots of John Wessels collection of miniatures . some well known and recognisable names and styles here