Italian Specialities in 1:12 Scale

Angela Gagliardi is facinated by precision in miniature. Her passion began when she saw a miniature slicing machine whose perfection enchanted her. Since the 1980's she has been trying to miniaturize everything possible. Her natural talent for crafts took her to the final step, opening her own shop in Milan, Cosediunaltro Mondo (Objects from Another World). I first saw her work at the Birmingham Miniatura in September 2007 and its regional authenticity amazed me.

When Angela couldn't find the items she wanted at International fairs, she set out to create her own. Food is an underlying basic of Italian culture. Angela wanted to create and present that essential of Italian life, especially the main dishes, and she thought these might also be well received by other collectors. She especially adores vintage kitchens, and creating tables that showcase regional food preparation and food items.

Miniatures are a relatively new field in Italy, and Angela thinks of her workshop as a laboratory for experimenting with new techniques and lines her customers might enjoy. Although Italian food is her main love, she is also interested in expanding interest in other Italian miniatures.

Angela goes beyond creating accurate miniatures. Her tables are so carefully laid out you can almost follow the cook's regional recipe. Her creations take a lot of time, but she finds the precision work very satisfying.

"I really like to make things that spring from my imagination and I get a lot of satisfaction seeing the the things I make appreciated and in great demand. I've seen a huge increase in interest over the internet this year. Many people are copying my ideas, but that gratifies me as well. It shows what my husband always says; when you make beautiful things, you are always improving and your curiosity and attention to detail mean you always find new ideas."

Angela's exquisite attention to detail doesn't just lead her to new ideas. Her quest for a realism which is tasteful and refined but which conveys regional character has led to amazing finish levels in her creations. The meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables, wines, and desserts she creates have the right texture, gloss, and transparency.

Angela's tomatoes aren't just round and red, but textured and colored in degrees of ripeness. You know these tomatoes aren't from the local superstore but come from the market. A dolls house resident is meant to examine these for ripeness and chose them for a specific project. A viewer finds themself wondering what flavor this particular tomato variety might add to the dish.

Her attention to detail is especially noticeable in the tables she creates. There is always a sense that this slice has just been cut, that the owner will soon return to his glass of wine, that the cloth has just been used to clean his hands and he is off in a corner somewhere chatting to a customer, or in a pantry or a garden finding something to add to a sandwich or a dish under preparation. Her tables create a sense of a time and character and draw the mind of the observer into the life and culture represented by her foods.

Like all great displays, your eye cannot just skim the presentation. You are drawn in to work out the story line, to use your imagination to match Angela's.

"In the near future I hope to successfully make a typical Italian store with all the typical products. It's a long project that will take a lot of time, but I really want to do it."

Unfortunately for us, Angela doesn't have space in her miniature store, Cosediunaltro Mondo in Milan, to run workshops. Her schedule of experimentation and development of new products leads her on, and those lucky enough to see her work close up, will have to be content with learning through observation.

I think many discerning collectors will find reasons to include Italian food in their displays just so they can admire the work of this talented miniaturist.