Magic of Miniatures Shared in Cold SpringFree Access

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Darren Thomas Scala places a miniature bed setting into the display case at D. Thomas Fine Miniatures. Photo by Chris Layton

Darren Thomas Scala places a miniature bed setting into the display case at D. Thomas Fine Miniatures. Photo by Chris Layton

In what may be the tiniest shop in Cold Spring, Darren Thomas Scala has some big little things to offer. Step into a world where everything is one-twelfth its normal size, and let yourself marvel at the magic of miniatures. At D. Thomas Fine Miniatures, there is a little something for everyone.

One might ask: what is a “miniature?” It can be anything you imagine, that has been created in a scaled-down size to fit in the palm of your hand. A self-proclaimed miniaturist, Darren Thomas Scala delved into the business three years ago, and is dedicated to raising awareness for this captivating class of collectibles.

At D. Thomas Fine Miniatures, located in The Shoppes at 103 Main Street in Cold Spring, Scala displays a whole array of miniatures, with everything from furniture, clothing, and handbags, to kitchen items, tiny Christmas trees, and handmade mini pottery, to truly anything one can imagine. There’s a little burled wood chess set with detailed versions of each game piece. A sewing machine, complete with the classic tomato pin cushion and measuring tape, proudly sports its miniature form. There’s even a Mona Lisa replica painting – about the size of a thumbnail.

“We think that might be the tiniest Mona Lisa in the world,” Scala said. Many of the mini-paintings were created using cat whiskers as brushes.

Though the field may seem new to some, miniatures have been around forever. “Literally, the pharaohs were buried with them thousands of years ago,” Scala said.

During the Renaissance Era, miniatures became more familiar. European women would recreate their objects (kitchen items, furniture, etc.), in miniature form to impress their family and friends, and simply to have something of their own.

“It was a way for women to express themselves as best they could. They didn’t own anything at the time – their husbands owned the homes. They didn’t have jobs. It was a way for them to exercise ownership,” Scala said.

The focus of miniatures shifted to children’s toys in the 1950s, but by the 1970s, the field was taken to a whole new level.

“It was about recreating objects in fine scale, using traditional materials…we’re talking about cherry wood pieces made with the right methods and materials, where you can see the grain of the wood and each detail,” Scala said.

Scala, born in Brooklyn, previously had a miniatures retail shop in Hastings. He spends a significant portion of his time at the YOHO Artist Studios in Yonkers, where he offers gallery showings featuring the work of miniature artists. He also offers a monthly subscription service, “SquintBox,” which delivers a curated miniature collection each month.

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, D. Thomas Fine Miniatures is open for business in Cold Spring.

“Everyone loves miniatures. There’s something for everyone,” said Scala. “It’s a broad category — just like life.”

For more information, visit www.dthomasfineminiatures.com/, where you can view all categories of miniatures, or purchase a Squint- Box subscription. The store, located in The Shoppes at 103 Main Street in Cold Spring, is open every day this fall from 11am-5pm.

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