The Miniature World of

David Claudon

As a theatre major at ISU in 1966, I took a scene design course where I made six 1/2-inch=1-inch scale set models.

A half-inch scale model of Ibsen's Ghosts, done around 1967. My set models were all done using illustration board, a medium I continue to use today.

In the 1970's, I discovered the miniature world and found that most miniature pieces available were in 1-inch scale. I moved up to that scale so I could use pieces I bought. Many of the rooms you will find shown here are in 1-inch scale, meaning that a 6 foot figure would be 6 inches in height.

Seen here in 1976, I found that creating individual room boxes followed the same principles as set design, including lighting for effect and the use of the figure. Research into period detail was an added bonus for me.

Many of the rooms you will find shown here are in 1-inch scale, meaning that a 6 foot figure would be 6 inches in height. Since I had already worked in 1/2-inch scale, I was delighted when it became popular with other miniaturists in the mid-1980's.

This 1995 diorama, "The Portrait," was created in 1/2-inch scale. The room is based on a plan from the 1930's of a room for Colonial Williamsburg. I was really pleased with the tile around the fireplace which has individually handpainted designs done with a magnifying glass. I painted the portrait in the room based on a 1780's painting.

• Miniatures
• Claudon Cats
• Kitty Kitsch
• Rooms 1
  
• Rooms 2
• 2 1/2-scale Rooms

In 1980, I created a miniature business called The Butterfly Cat Studio. The name was inspired by a Rose O'Neill Kewpieville panel from Ladies' Home Journal in 1926. In it the residents of Kewpieville found a butterfly cat and its kittens in a pet shop.

Among the items I eventually created for the business were Claudon cats, Kitty Kitsch (dressed cats I created with my wife Ferbie), miniature rooms, and paper dolls. These were sold at shows and through the mail. The business ended in 1995.

This page was created by C. David Claudon. Last revised September 5, 2003 .