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Miniatures and doll houses have been around for centuries. They have been adult status symbols, learning tools for the daughters of the family to learn household skills, collectors’ items, artistic endeavors, historical legacies of how people lived through history and they have been toys that children love to play with. Why do miniatures remain consistently popular with both adults and children?

There remains a universal appeal for all things small. Almost every town anywhere in the world has a group of miniaturists that meet to create miniatures, decorate dollhouses and exchange...

Miniatures have a universal appeal; we love to see everyday items and buildings in miniature. For some this can become an obsession and a lifelong dream. For Pierre Vuigner, the owner of a grocery store in Grimisuat in Switzerland it was idea to create a miniature village in Switzerland after visiting a miniature park in Holland. The idea would not let go of him. Vuigner sold his store, bought land in Melide, Switzerland near Lake Lugano and convinced the then mayor Gallino that his town would be the perfect location for a miniature village. He worked with the mayor to...

The Nostell Priory is now an elegant palatial home which is part of Great Britain’s National Trust. The home, located on the grounds of a former monastery, is open to the public and features furniture by Chippendale, rooms by Robert Adam and James Paine, and many historic and famous paintings. After the monasteries were disbanded in 1530 by proclamation of Henry VIII, the property became available for the building of a home.

The Nostell Priory home was built by the Winn family who acquired the property in 1654. The 4th Baronet, Sir...

Like everywhere else in the world miniatures are also popular in Brazil. One of the most famous miniature parks in the world in located in Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul, the Mini Mundo attracts more than 60,000 visitors annually. The 179 buildings which are built in 1:24 scale include famous landmarks from Brazil and buildings from around the world. One of the most popular is the replica of the Neuschwanstein Castle. The original castle is located in Bavaria. Other buildings include the replica of the Sao Francisco de Assis Church, the original of which is located in Ouro Preto, Brazil,...

There are many specialties or interests in the world of dollhouse miniatures. Some miniature enthusiasts specialize in wood working, while others like to create miniature florals or foods, or miniature scenes. One popular specialty is miniature needlework. There are a variety of organizations that support this hobby or interest but the
 international Miniature Needlework Society (MNS) based in the United Kingdom is one of the most successful. The Miniature Needlework Society was founded in 1997 and is dedicated to the creation and the promotion of miniature work with a needle and thread. This includes the...