Miniature of DCW Chair by


Left: Miniature of Tulip chair by



Left: Miniature of Coconut chair by
Miniature of Stool (Modell A) by Charles & Ray Eames.


Left: Miniature of 3-Benet Skalstol by
Miniature of Big Easy by



Left: Miniature of Mezzadro by Achille &


Left: Miniature of Plywood Elephant by Charles & Ray Eames. Right: Miniature of MR 90 Barcelona by
Miniature of Heart-Shaped Cone chair by
Seriously, who hasn’t dreamed of owning a collection of
I think we can all agree that no piece of furniture has attracted the attention of designers, architects and artists like the


Installation view of Vitra’s 100 Miniatures Exhibition.
For over two decades, the
Exactly one-sixth the size of the historical originals, the chairs are all true to scale and precisely recreate the smallest details of construction, material and colour. The high standard of authenticity even extends to the natural grain of the wood, the reproduction of screws and the elaborate handicraft techniques involved. This has made the miniatures into popular collector’s items as well as ideal illustrative material for universities, design schools and architects.
In the touring exhibition at Living Edge, 100
Since 1992, the Miniatures Collection available for sale comprises more than 8,000 models of furniture and lighting. By contrast, 100 prototypes of classic seats dating from the 1800s and 1990s have been developed for this display.
In this special showcase, the viewer’s attention is directed towards the perfectly crafted true-to-scale character of the miniatures. It is visually accessible to grasp a chair as a miniature – its proportions stand out even more distinctly than in the original object. The clearly-defined world of the miniatures helps us find our bearings in the diverse styles of contemporary design.
In this special exhibition, the chairs are viewed not as isolated phenomena but are placed firmly in their cultural and historical context. A perfect little lesson in design history.
The post