Small
Recent trends in contemporary art have meant that we've grown accustomed to large scale pieces, be that huge canvases, enormous sculptures, or giant installations.
However, the miniature has always been an important part of contemporary art. Be it paintings, sculpture, or photography as well as small format drawings, the reduced dimensions of the artwork puts new constraints on the artist, forcing them to develop their techniques and artistic finesse.
Jeff Wall, an American photographer known for his large scale photographic prints on huge illuminated boxes, has said that “the scale of a piece is not about the dimensions of it, but about the internal tensions within the composition".
Believe it or not, miniature pieces have many advantages. Smaller formats allow the artists to show off a different range of talents and techniques, and sometimes even create the impression of a much higher quality piece – such as engravings or prints. Creating a miniature is a sure sign of precision and skill.
They are also more practical to exhibit than the enormous artworks: we've all got a little space on a shelf ready to welcome a miniature sculpture, photo or drawing.
Another very practical aspect of miniatures is the myriad possibilities for display: you could put together a full shelf of statuettes, or even a dedicated framing wall – which is an increasingly popular method for display, and makes for the perfect decorative addition to a living room or bedroom. It's a mixed composition made up of an array of pieces – you guessed it – all on the same wall. The diminutive size of the miniatures also makes it easier to make sure your favourite pieces are displayed in pride of place.
Even artists who are known for their monumental works are slowly getting into miniatures, like Jeff Wall in his exhibition at the Cartier Foundation.
The miniature is making a big name for itself as a growing trend across the contemporary art world; from Gaspard Mitz, who creates tiny versions of the interiors of famous art galleries in his 'Box Stories', to the photography of Samsofy, who recreates scenes from daily life with miniscule Lego 'actors'.
Last but not least, the small scale of the pieces means that even big names come with small price tags, meaning that miniatures make excellent presents. So, go on, what are you waiting for? Browse our selection of miniature works now…
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Le babouin sacré
Rembrandt Bugatti
Sculpture - 43 x 42 x 20 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 16.5 x 7.9 inch
$8,583 $7,725
Le vendeur de rue
Edouard Menta
Painting - 46.5 x 38.5 x 0.5 cm Painting - 18.3 x 15.2 x 0.2 inch
$3,418
Femme à la ceinture
Marie Thuillier
Painting - 43 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting - 16.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$894
Sans Titre
Mohammadi Zabihollah
Fine Art Drawings - 29.1 x 20.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.5 x 8.1 inch
$1,013
Mother and Child
Irene Pereyra
Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 23 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch
$358
Soldier
Jacques Hirtz
Fine Art Drawings - 41 x 29 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.1 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch
$358
Portrait of a Man
Ildebrando Urbani
Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 21.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.4 x 8.5 x 0.1 inch
$358
The Portrait
Gustavo Boldrini
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 34 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 13.4 x 0 inch
$536
The Portrait
Francis Duchene
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch
$477
Coiffage breton - Scène de vie de la culture bretonne
Josette Georgel
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$435
Le Talut- Paysage marin de Belle-île-en-Mer
Virginie Le Roy
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$381
L'art de la joie
Clémence Wach
Fine Art Drawings - 27 x 35 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.6 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch
$1,192
Still Life with Calla Lily
Ugo Celada
Painting - 50 x 33 x 0.3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 13 x 0.1 inch
$13,113
Cyrano de berje craque !
Catherine Bessin
Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 32 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch
$358
Portrait de Melle Bachelard
Jules Gaillepand
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 32 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 12.6 x 0.2 inch
$1,059
Troglodytes Mignons
Judith Devaux
Sculpture - 11.5 x 29 x 11 cm Sculpture - 4.5 x 11.4 x 4.3 inch
$3,219
La Tragédie Antique, étude pour le décor mural du vestibule du Théâtre de Chaillot, 1936
Henry de Waroquier
Fine Art Drawings - 48 x 35 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.9 x 13.8 inch
$5,365
Woman
Antonio Mellone
Fine Art Drawings - 48.5 x 33.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.1 x 13.2 x 0.1 inch
$477
Aus der Serie: Mystische Thai-Visionen: Heilige Pilze und Blumen (11)
The opium smoking white elephant
Print - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$477
Satyrical Portrait of Benito Mussolini
Alberto Fremura
Fine Art Drawings - 49.2 x 34 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.4 x 13.4 x 0.1 inch
$417
Call me President
Hossein Borojeni
Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 25.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.6 x 10 inch
$656
Sketches
Paul Garin
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 26.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 10.4 x 0.1 inch
$453
A Theater Character
Flor David
Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 25.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.1 x 10 x 0.1 inch
$417
Portrait of Boy
Jean Dreyfus-Stern
Fine Art Drawings - 37 x 32 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.6 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch
$417
The King Who Couldn’t Smile
Papayon
Photography - 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.1 cm Photography - 14 x 11 x 0 inch
$238
La Luxure - Les Sept péchés capitaux
Zebendo
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0 inch
$298
Cheval soleil - Sculpture équestre ferronnerie sur peuplier
Pierre Conte
Sculpture - 23 x 43 x 11 cm Sculpture - 9.1 x 16.9 x 4.3 inch
$268
La Loge, série Opéra
Joanna Flatau
Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 32 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.4 x 12.6 inch
$2,623
Jeune fille au Bouquet
Paul Braig
Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 23.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.4 x 9.3 inch
$298
No Sense cleansing
Christophe Stouvenel
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 24 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 9.4 inch
$118
Ballerina Odilia
Lyubka Kyrilova
Sculpture - 46 x 16 x 15 cm Sculpture - 18.1 x 6.3 x 5.9 inch
$5,400
Sans titre 19
Katsuko Kuroya
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 30 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
$191
Dame en pleine écriture
C. A.
Fine Art Drawings - 36.5 x 49 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.4 x 19.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,020
Couple fusionnel
Marina Cartiant
Sculpture - 45 x 20 x 30 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 7.9 x 11.8 inch
$5,841
Place de l'hôtel de ville à Paris
Henri Noizeux
Fine Art Drawings - 23 x 32 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.1 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch
$1,084
Serge Gainsbourg
Gwendal Lemercier
Painting - 29.7 x 21 x 0.2 cm Painting - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$334
BONNE FETE MAMAN Maternité 1959 Motherhood
P PESH
Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch
$2,325
Window on Posillipo - Naples seaside & frame
Gianni Di Guida
Painting - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$596
All Shook Up
Terrece Beesley
Fine Art Drawings - 45.7 x 40.6 x 1.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 16 x 0.5 inch
$1,790
Les mains de Charlotte Perriand
Judith Prigent
Print - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Print - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$155
Chevaux rouge et blanc
Serge Lassus
Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 38 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 15 inch
$179
Portrait du peintre Sen Shombit
Alain Bonnefoit
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.3 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.5 x 0.1 inch
$362 $309
Happy Toys
Elene Melikidze
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$477
Expanse of red poppies . Tuscany painting & handmade frame
Roberto Gai
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$656
Il paradiso può attendere
Angela Latorre
Painting - 37 x 37 x 1 cm Painting - 14.6 x 14.6 x 0.4 inch
$298
Gorille assis
Jean-Baptiste Vendamme
Sculpture - 34 x 49 x 20 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 19.3 x 7.9 inch
$11,087
Pollinisation - Hommage à Jeff Koons
Livia De Poli
Sculpture - 43 x 45 x 45 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 17.7 x 17.7 inch
$16,690
In the evening- Venice painting
Antonio Sgarbossa
Painting - 30 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$626
Comment vas-tu mon poussin ?
Olivier Daumas
Photography - 29 x 21 x 0.2 cm Photography - 11.4 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$179
Boxer
Billy Dee Williams
Fine Art Drawings - 43.2 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17 x 20 x 2 inch
$4,600
Vue du bar des artistes, Honfleur
Fabienne Tuffigo
Painting - 33 x 24 x 0.3 cm Painting - 13 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch
$274
