www.cdhm.org January 2008 CDHM Featured Collector

Timeless Beauty in Bronze Photos by Karen Brown Walk into the magic world of Victorian ladies, elegant vessels
and Hummel quality figurines all measuring ¼" to 1" in Bronze.

Karen Brown of Michigan has always been interested in arts and crafts. As far back as she can remember she has had a passion for collectibles,from pigs figurines and teddy bears then dollhouse miniatures. Though her collections have varied over the years, she proudly will show you her most treasured collection to date, her one-of-a-kind bronze miniature figurines.

Her first introduction to the world of miniatures began in 1988, when she first purchased Hallmark miniature ornaments. Her interest in miniatures turned from casual to a serious collector of miniatures in 2001 when she purchased a dollhouse kit with visions of furnishing each room with artist made creations.

Karen says, "I purchased several pieces along the way, Alice Zinn animals, J. Getzan Cooperware and other known artists. After attending the Chicago miniature show one year, she decided she needed to finish her own dollhouse before purchasing any more miniatures. She wanted to wait and decorate according to the design of the rooms.

In 2002, a friend that collects fine quality miniatures, invited her to attend a local miniature group, with guest speaker, Randall Zadar and his miniature bronze figurines. Karen's interest into collectibles took another turn after that meeting. She says, "I became fascinated with the tiny hand sculpted, lost wax method technique of these bronze figurines. From the one inch intricately painted Victorian ladies with minute details to the Mice on Wheels Series to the tiniest of flowers in vases, Karen said she just, "knew she had to have them all".

One of Karen's favorite pieces is a basket of roses that can sit on a dime! Thus began her quest to collect tiny bronze miniatures and not just one or two pieces, but all she could find.

Karen has amassed 150 pieces from Zadar Studios and is still on her pursuit to find the remaining sixteen pieces from his early work. Miniature bronze art is so rare, she has not collected any other bronze works, but she's always searching for those intricately detailed works of art from known artists and new, upcoming artisans.

What is in her plans for her collections? Karen says that "though the dollhouse is incomplete, she plans on filling the rooms with the finest miniatures she can continue to find for her dream dollhouse, and using all the miniatures she has collected so far".