I know it’s meant to be Midweek Miniatura; there are only three weeks to the show but with the family situation the way it is, my time to do Midweek Min and the research involved is limited.
I have, however actually managed to get the new porcelain ornaments all the way to completion. There are 24 new 24th scale ornaments. They really are very small. Have a look.
Matchless or what? When I first began collecting it was this size of china ornament I was keen to get my hands on, though I never imagined I’d be making this size of artefact myself.
I am most proud of the hunting bottle. The fox stopper is removable and, as you can see, not much bigger than the head of the match. The cat is one of a pair, there is also a pair of pigs. The squire and his dog is one of three flat backed figurines with bocage. The pastille burner cottage is the smallest solid item and the crinoline lady is the smallest figurine.
Here you can see a flower seller, the previous items, a Bordalou and a parrot. The Bordalou second from the right was an ergonomically shaped potty for a lady. It acquired its name from the Reverend Bordalou, who was famous for his agonisingly lengthy sermons and answers the question, ‘Where are the toilets in church?’* There is a famous and rather suggestive Francois Boucher painting of an eighteenth century lady utilising this receptacle which continued in popularity right into the nineteenth century and in some areas, the twentieth century and the arrival of indoor plumbing. I found the full size original for this to photograph and measure in a local antique shop.
The reason some of these ornaments also appeared in the last photograph is simply the difficulty of getting them all in focus, I did shoot all 24, frequently, here are some more.
See, this time it was an owl and a bird jug that came out in focus. I also photographed a load on a book of matches, here is the winner
with an additional pig.
I will try to photograph more but first I must make the stand for them, because the problem of exhibiting such small miniatures is the very real danger of closely peering visitors inhaling the stock. I think I may have to resort to double sided sticky tape.
So, more if I have time to show you the rest, which are, as always in my style, which is to say, little and loveable, entirely suitable for a dolls’ house and, of course, the real deal, kiln fired hundred year lasting, glazed, china painted porcelain, washable pocket money heirlooms, then I will.
* Inside your muff, with a cover.
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JaneLaverick.com – fired with enthusiasm.