Bodily skill and the aesthetics of miniaturisation

The interpretation of miniature objects has frequently focused on depositional activities, yet the whole cultural biography of miniatures has much to say regarding how people made, used, and categorised these types of objects within past societies. Production practices must be incorporated into our approaches to miniature objects as the act of production creates conceptual categorisations of the world and sets the tenor for appropriate use and deposition. The production of miniatures must be understood as something distinct from other material culture as they often require not only different categorical associations but also different techniques of production. This chapter explores the bodily techniques and practices associated with the manufacture and use of miniatures.