The Big Story of Miniature Museums(a)

The Big Story of Miniature Museums

♫世界真是小小小，小的非常妙妙妙♫

by Rebecca A. Fratzke

Mixing art, fun, and imagination, miniature museums offer a special look at the world.

袖珍博物馆结合艺术、趣味和想象力，用不一样的角度看世界。

As children, many of us were given toys that represented larger items. Girls got small kitchen sets with pint-sized pots and pans, while boys played with little cars and armies of soldiers. Even as adults, we are fascinated with the fun of life through miniatures. Whether it is an intricately decorated doll house or an expansive model train set, collections of miniatures can boggle the mind. However, miniatures refer to far more than just toys. Museums around the world have been dedicated to miniature art and collections. With their beautiful details and sense of fun, miniatures and their museums have become attractions for the young and old alike.

Miniature art focuses on art done in a small way. This doesn't mean that the museums aren't funded well. Instead, all of the art is extremely small. Tiny paintings, sculptures, engravings, and more are all types of miniature art. In many ways, it is the small size of the art itself that makes miniatures so magical. Miniature art got its start in Germany, where small items were made and used to teach children. Before long, miniatures also became popular items with adults, and the first private collections and museums of miniature art were started.

Portrait miniatures are tiny paintings that gained popularity during the 16th century. Some of the smallest portrait miniatures measure 30 by 40 millimeters. Through the 18th century, portrait miniatures were commonly exchanged in Europe, which was similar to how we share and exchange photos with friends and family today. Such paintings have become valuable collector's items as well as accomplished works of art.

　我们许多人小时候都曾被给过仿实物的迷你玩具。女孩子会拿到小型厨具组，里头的锅子、盆子都是小不隆咚的；而男孩子则玩过小汽车和小小玩具兵团。即使长大成人，我们仍为袖珍物品所带来的生活乐趣着迷。不论是布置精巧的娃娃屋或是宽广的铁道组，袖珍物品的收藏总能带给人们惊奇。不过，袖珍物品指的不仅仅是玩具而已。世界各地都有专门展示袖珍艺术和收藏品的博物馆。袖珍物品和袖珍博物馆所展现出的美丽细节和趣味性，不管是大人小孩都深感着迷。

　　袖珍艺术着重于小尺寸的艺术品。这并不意味这些博物馆缺乏资金，而是指所有艺术品的体积都超级迷你。迷你的画作、雕刻品、版画等等都是袖珍艺术的一种。从许多方面来说，正是艺术品的迷你体积使得袖珍物品显得如此神奇。袖珍艺术始于德国，他们当初制作袖珍物品的目的是为了教育儿童。没多久，袖珍物品也开始在成人间流行起来，因而有了最早的私人袖珍艺术收藏与博物馆。

　　袖珍肖像画是一种迷你的画作，在 16 世纪开始流行。有些最迷你的袖珍肖像画尺寸仅有 30 x 40 公厘。整个 18 世纪，交换袖珍肖像画在欧洲相当普遍，这就像今日我们和亲友分享、交换照片一样。这些袖珍绘画不仅成为收藏家的珍品，也是一种高超的艺术品。