Making
Unusual Miniatures
by Graham Spalding
Softcover
210 x 295mm
120pp
Published by Guild of Master Craftsman Publications Ltd, East Sussex UK
R.R.P.$19.90
ISBN 0946819-13-0
As reviewed in Australian Woodworker Issue 26
Despite the many enthusiastic makers of miniatures in this country, there is still a tendency for the craft to be regarded as a part of simple toy-making. This is not the case in Europe where, in many countries, well-made miniatures have become highly priced collectibles, sought after as additions to the decoration of a home where they might be housed in an open-sided "doll's house" or on wall shelves, often divided into rooms of furniture.
Making Unusual Miniatures is for those who wish to take the craft seriously. It deals firstly, and fortunately very briefly, with timber. (These three pages are of limited use in Australia.) It goes on to talk about the tools required. These are rather less expensive than those necessary for the construction of life-sized originals! It then provides constructional details for more than a dozen projects.
For the non-miniaturist, the sparsely dimensioned drawings may seem odd until it is realised that they don't need dimensions. They are shown full scale so they can be used as patterns for the individual components.
Constructional descriptions are given for each project and there are plenty of photographs. The projects include a button-back wing chair, a corner gun cupboard (and guns), an Adam style fireplace, a Georgian drum table, a spinning wheel and stool, a harp and a Mendlesham chair.
The book finishes with a description of a simple technique for scaling projects for miniaturisation.
Photos: Black & White
Units of Measurement: Metric
Contents
Timber
Tools and Tips
Oak Refectory Table and Benches
Corner Gun Cupboard
Button-Back Wing Chair
Snooker Table and Accessories
Adam-Style Fireplace
Georgian Drum Table
Mendlesham Chair
Four-Poster Bed
Victorian Summer House and Croquet Set
Spinning Wheel and Stool
Ship's Wheel
Modern Orchestral Harp
Measuring New Projects