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D. Thomas Miniatures to Host Estate Sale of Vintage 1970s Miniatures

  • Jul 17, 2022

I'm excited to announce my summer auction of vintage 1970s miniatures from the estate of a collector from Connecticut. The sale is filled with a number of pieces created during the beginning of the "golden era" of dollhouse miniature collecting and includes several IGMA Artisans and Fellows including Betty Valentine (F), George Hoffman (F) and Roger Gutheil (F), (furniture), Deborah McKnight, Carolyn Nygren Curren (CNC Miniatures) and Jean Tag (Pottery), Jane Bermier and Jane Conneen (Readable Books) as well as Sylvia Roundtree, Virginia Merrill, Mary Grady O'Brien.

There are a number of lesser-known, but still highly talented artists represented in this sale as well including Robert L. Carlisle (furniture), Langdon, Milton Bond (painting), Warren Dick, Walter Stout (furniture) and John R (indecipherable signature). Additionally, there are pieces by Ed Norton, founding member of NAME and work by Roger Gutheil for Chestnut Hill, makers of fine furniture started in the late 1940's.

Reverse glass framed painting featuring a primitive colonial American scene by artisan Milton Bond (1977) pictured below.

This sale is filled with a number of pieces from the "transitional" period of miniature making; a time before miniatures became more refined, created with the adult collector in mind, including pieces by The Arnells and Mell Prescott and more mass manufactured makers like Strombecker, Dolphin Originals, Chestnut Hill along with several unknown artists or pieces with indecipherable signatures. Upholstered sofa is shown below with decorative piping with hardwood sculpted legs and made by Mell Prescott. Ms. Prescott has an award named after her, give each year by NAME, the National Association of Miniatures Enthusiasts for excellence in miniature making.

I had a great chat with Troy Bettridge recently from the popular Instagram account TulsaTinyStuff on a special Meet the Miniaturist broadcast. Troy shared his terrific collection of vintage miniatures and his extensive knowledge of tiny treasures from the 1940s through the 1960s. Miniatures made during this period helped with the transition to the modern miniatures movement defined by more refined and realistic work which appealed to a growing adult audience at the time. His expertise really helped to add insights on the types of miniatures featured in my upcoming sale

Here are some additional miniature treasures featured in this sale:

Hardwood William & Mary Table with Hand turned legs by Warren Dick.

Pottery by IGMA Fellow Deborah McKnight!

Readable books (some with color illustrations!) by IGMA Fellow Jane Bernier.

Mid century modern style upholstered chair with wood legs by unknown (unsigned) artisan.

5 drawer dresser made of hardwoods by Srombecker.


See you all at the sale!

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Until Next Time Thank you for being a part of the

D. Thomas Miniatures Community!


D. Thomas Miniatures Featured on Buzzfeed!

  • Jul 16, 2022

I was crazy-thrilled to have a 3-minute feature posted on July 9, 2022 of my work on SOML (Story of My Life), part of the Buzzfeed family of social media channels.

The feature included posts which included my own work as well as some of the posts I've shared of other artists including Natasha Beshencovksy, whose work was included in my Fall 2021 Buckalter Estate Sale., Tim O'Dell and Lauren Delaney, both of whom created works for my holiday decoration project at Nybelwyck Hall, the fantastical 24 room mini mansion at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, N.Y.

You can watch the full video here:

A BIG thank you to Buzzfeed Video and to the folks over at Graphic Pandit for the awesome edit – and to all the very talented artists, makers, collectors and enthusiasts who continue to delight, excite and inspire me to do what I do each and every little day and encourage me to always #FindTheJoyInMiniatures.


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Until Next Time Thank you for being a part of the

D. Thomas Miniatures Community!


Meet the Miniaturist: Guild School Edition with Susan Mattinson

  • Jul 1, 2022

I was recently able to connect with Susan Mattinson from Nasus_Miniatures on Instagram, who had recently returned from the famed Guild School hosted by the International Guild of Miniature Artisans in this special edition of Meet the Miniaturist. You may remember Susan as a contestant on the Canadian series Best in Miniature, the reality based show about making tiny things!

In this broadcast, Susan shares her experience as a first year student at the famed school which happens every year in the ideally New England coastal town of Castine, Maine on the campus of the Maine Maritime Academy.

Susan took 3 classes for a total class time of 48 hours.

Mattinson describes what it was like preparing for school, choosing classes, some of the challenges she faced and of course, the projects that she worked on!

Susan used a lathe in Pete and Pam Boorham's class.



Final tavern table and ladder back chairs with woven seats crafted of cherrywood.

Upholstered chair taught by Marcia McClain's from McBay Miniatures. Students get to choose the fabric and the pillow was supplied (and made by) Marcia!

Pre-cut poppy petals and hand painted in Pia Becker's Flower class.

Historic Castine, Maine!


This was fun - thank you Susan for sharing your experience with us!

You can find Susan on Instagram here:


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Until Next Time Thank you for being a part of the

D. Thomas Miniatures Community!


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