Why We Love Tiny Things…
There are lots of theories on why small worlds bring so much joy
Why do we love tiny things so much? The answers are different for every miniaturist, dollhouse renovator, and mini collector. Some like the perfection of real life items shrunken down to miniature size. Some people find peace and calm in little worlds where they have control over every detail and where events of the real world can’t seep in to ruin a cozy living room or a sunny breakfast nook.
Some are recreating memories of the past and others are creating the homes they wish they had. Miniature worlds offer calm, comfort, and safety.
It’s been have suggested that miniaturists have a “God complex,” but I don’t believe it’s about being all powerful. Instead, I think the love of miniatures and dollhouses is about having power over your own environment. That’s something we all seek these days, yet often find elusive.
Child therapists say that dollhouses allow their young patients a safe place to create their own narratives about life. I think the same is true of adults.
The longing for a safe and cozy space of one’s own, free from whatever outside influences you’re hoping to avoid, is universal. The desire to return to the idea of home that lives in your head and heart is something that can be worked out on a small scale.
A few years ago I learned about the Welsh word “hiraeth,” which Wikipedia defines as “a profound, melancholic longing for a home, time, or place that has been lost, has changed, or may never have truly existed. It is a deep, spiritual yearning that combines homesickness with intense nostalgia and a touch of grief.”
I had never heard a word that so accurately describes how I feel about working in miniature. It explains the emotional connection that goes far beyond acquiring, owning, and staging tiny things. It perfectly explains the emotional connection to these scenes that defies an easy explanation.
Being able to live, at least part time, in a world that fills that emotional need is something I think most miniature lovers embrace. It’s really all about feeling at home and spending as much time there as possible.
What’s your emotional connection to miniatures? Tell me in the comments.