Once you have a focus, what space will your collection of miniatures need? If you’ve decided to create a village, what scale do you have room for? What will work best for you; a display box, a dolls house or other building, or a roomful of glass cases?
- Collecting for a Display Box: Smaller collections can stay in a themed display box until you have enough pieces to showcase them in a larger structure (house or shop). A display box protects collectibles from dust and sunlight. Some houses are collections of display boxes. For examples of spectacular display rooms see the Thorne Miniature Rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago.
- Collecting for a Dollhouse: A dollhouse collection involves more choices and expense than a display box. What scale house can you display? Will one be enough? Will you need more? Is there a particular period/style of house you want? Are kits available in your style and price range? Will you scratch build, or buy something already wired for electricity or partially finished? Will you be happy if rooms stay unfurnished for years while you collect? Study the range of dollhouses and styles at the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood in London.
- Showcases: If you don’t want to tell a story or create a scene, a showcased collection may work best. Theresa Yu has an enormous collection of dollhouse items housed in showcases. (This can be a slow link as it is a huge private collection.) Hers is an impressive example of how large a miniature collection can grow! Imagine if it was all housed in miniature buildings!
