The art of small things / John Mack

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Small is beautiful -- The colossal and the diminutive -- Visualising small worlds -- Seeing hidden things -- Small bodies -- Small as powerful -- Private pleasures.

There is a true fascination with all things miniature and with the skills involved in creating a miniature work of art. This richly illustrated book celebrates the art of the miniature, but also looks beyond it at the many aspects of "small worlds" - in particular, their capacity to evoke responses that far exceed their physical dimensions. Author John Mack explores the talismanic, religious, or magical properties with which miniatures are often imbued. Considering a wide range of objects - from Mughal miniature paintings, ancient Egyptian amulets, Ashanti gold weights, and Aztec jade figures to Hindu temple carts, English prints and drawings, classical Greek jewelry, maps, mosaics, models, and magical gems - he examines the use of the miniature form in various cultural contexts.