Crafting miniatures for dollhouses takes precision, skill and patience to capture the fine details of the architecture, interior design, furniture, decor and landscaping at such a small scale. Miniaturists have been constructing these tiny homes since the 17th century in northern Europe — primarily in Germany, Holland and England — where dollhouses were commissioned and placed in homes to display opulence and status.
Flash forward to today, where the art form has found its way online, garnering massive audiences. Popular YouTube channels like Tiny Kitchen, which launched in 2017, show doll-sized portions of food being made. Both Instagram and TikTok have seen a surge in miniature hobbyists and pros breathing new life into this long beloved pastime and sharing playful and ingenious designs you won't believe are so small.
If the new — and very bingeable — competitive reality show, Best in Miniature (now streaming on CBC Gem), ignites your fascination with the hobby and the amazing people around the world who are doing it, then you might also want to fill your TikTok feed with these 10 creators.
Revive Minis Briar Nielsen of Toronto paid tribute to her Canadian roots by creating a teeny-tiny pack of Timbits, among other things. Her work can also be seen (and purchased) in her Etsy store.
Little House of Lights This TikTokker doesn't just show off the finished dollhouse, but the individual items required to make each room feel authentic and perfectly detailed. They also stay engaged by responding to user comments, questions and sometimes requests.
Panda Miniatures Miniaturist Amanda Kelly says her work engages the viewer with the "minuscule details of unoccupied spaces that form a complex narrative."
I Build Small Things Chris Toledo is a miniature artist living in Los Angeles who builds and sells exquisite early 20th-century reproductions of interiors.
D. Thomas Miniatures This miniaturist is also a retailer, collector and sometimes auctioneer, who showcases other people's works on his TikTok account. He also hosts a YouTube series called Meet the Miniaturist.
Rosa Moran This miniature artisan's eye for interior design is on full display on their TikTok account. She has also appeared on D. Thomas' Meet the Miniaturist!
Cassie Leigh Art This unique account tells a grisly story with each creation, constructing notorious murder scenes in miniature. Be warned though, some of these mini rooms are based on real-life events.
Deck to Farm Charm This charming TikTok account not only shows the detailed craft of mini furniture, but also their DIY prowess in dollhouse renovation.
Southern Gothic Dollhouse Into the macabre and gothic? This TikTokker's dollhouse boasts the most intricate and grotesque details for a truly spooky mini haunted house.
Check out the new reality show Best in Miniature on CBC Gem, where you can see 11 artists compete as they build their dream miniature home.
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