To wonder who is buying these for £30 each?

[TrialOfStyle]

Browsing Etsy just because, and came across this seller selling teeny, miniature crochet animals - measuring 3mms each.

They are adorable and the detail is very good, but £30 for something that’s falling down the sofa or getting hoovered up? Just why?

Good on the seller for finding an effective way at to make money but who in the world is buying them and what are you supposed to do with them? You can’t even just sit and look at them without holding them a few inches in front of your face.

Anyone here a secret buyer and want to shed some light on this?

@Labobo
I can imagineWillard might be very intense and rule driven.
But honestly without any sign how were you to know? What a shame!

I have sewing machine thread too
I did crochet flowers with embroidery silks, but I used all 6 strands. If I split them down to 1 I could make smaller stuff. Maybe.

I read threads like this and it just makes me so happy that humans are this creative

What a lovely thing to read amongst all the crap today

They are amazing and the skill is real, but what would 'real people' ie without exhibition rooms and curators, do with them? Pre kids I used to buy and care for art for Ultra High Networth folk, and did my degrees in Art History and Curatorship, but I prefer my art to be democratic, that everyone could enjoy it/see it!!
Wigan does come over as very self important and pretentious though urgh, however talented he is!

'My work astounds people, what I manage to make from “nothing” is truly spectacular. I never make the same piece twice, so each sculpture is completely unique. What I am able to achieve has been described as the eighth wonder of the world, I’m not really sure if that is true, as the other seven are pretty amazing in comparison..

Just found Willard Wigan's website - amazing!

@ChocolateSantaisthebestkind

What would people do with them?

Well - what does anyone do with any art?

Display it somewhere, look at it once in a while and enjoy owning it.

I wouldn't but them because I would likely lose it in 5 seconds flat, but as a crocheter I would like to say OMG, that is some skill!

@SnorkMaidensTummy

Have you seen Willard Wigan's micro sculptures? They're fantastic but on another level.

Wow, he's incredibly talented. Just looked at his website.

@Rhayader

My sister drunk ordered loads of guinea pig ones of these 🤣

What did she do with them when they arrived?

[quote Bouncebacker]@VettiyaIruken small scale what though? Obviously not for kids - but what would a collector do with them?[/quote]
What do collectors do with anything they collect? Put them in a box/on display somewhere... Most collectors do fuck all with their collection.

I absolutely love them and have looked at many times but can’t justify the cost (ie spending that amount, I understand the time, skill and patience that have gone into them).

I have bought similar before but bigger, teeny kawaii potatoes for the children, I just love miniatures and make miniature clay food when I have the time

These, I love them!!!

I remember visiting Guadalest in Spain where they had 2 or 3 "micromuseums" with little things like this - the Eiffel Tower in the eye of a needle and so on. I remember being fascinated by it all, especially learning that the artists had to work in between their own heartbeats as they needed such a steady hand.

As fascinated as I was (and still am), even then I thought to myself "well that's great and all, but who would ever buy something you need a magnifying glass or microscope to see?"

@wildraisins I know that of course, but there's a difference between a painting that hangs on the wall or a sculpture that can be seen with the naked eye and something that requires a microscope/ magnifyer to look at and storage would be a nightmare. As you will have seen, in my previous job, I have worked for major collectors, so I am well aware of the joy of ownership and looking at art. I just don't understand the appeal to regular people, as I said...

They are worth it for the skill, but yes whether you'd want them and why is a different matter.

@RaspberryCoulis

My goodness. That's quite some skill involved in making that.

Honestly that would not be hard to make. Just a small.hook. There's barely any stitches in them. Barely and wool. You'd make a huge profit.

[quote SchrodingersImmigrant]@VettiyaIruken are you a collector? I googled some pics and i have to say that the skill going into all that is incredibly impressive![/quote]
No, I make and sell them.

ChocolateSanta - I'm not sure this is 'undemocratic' - or at least, is anything you buy for your household democratic? I don't invite random strangers in to admire my Anita Klein prints or my favourite cushions or the china on my dresser. And I'm not sure it's 'art' either - it's amazing and very talented craft. Like most of the other miniature lovers on this thread, I can absolutely see the point of spending money on this if it's your bag (it's not really mine, I have too much clutter and wouldn't be able to display them properly) or of wrecking your eyesight trying to make some! People collect and love all sorts of niche things.

As for whether anyone else would see them, I bet the miniatures world is full of meets and online groups, and a lot of photo bragging goes on!

With my eyesight I wouldn't even know if they'd arrived or not!

With my eyesight I wouldn't even know if they'd arrived or not! Yes, if they put those packing peanuts in the box with it you'd never find it would you . It is very cool though and I bet some hours have gone into designing and making them

I think you’ve given some handy advertising op ;

They’re pretty good. Ds (11) does small clay stuff and he was impressed

@VettiyaIruken 😱😱😱 oh my god (bows).
Amazing. I follow some miniature makers on instagram, but not this level. It's just fascinating. You must be so patient!

One of my most favourite ever places is the museum of miniatures in Prague. We stumbled across it not knowing it was there. Amazing!

But no, I’d lose in of these immediately

This reminds me of the elaborate dollhouses at the Rijksmuseum (and my childhood obsession with miniatures/ dollhouses)... bliss