Yanko Design

These hand-crafted miniature animals move when you turn the crank

Penny Thomson Miniature Automata

The fascination with miniature stuff continues to grow among many hobbyists and creatives from all over the world. Even if you are not into making little versions of objects, houses, villages, you can still find joy in exploring the little details and every nook and cranny of a set or figure. While the most popular model is a miniature house, animals come next as another exciting subject. Making them is not easy because of all the tiny details, but one fantastic artist can even make versions that move. Believe it or not, no small electronics or batteries were added, but Penny Thomson only used wires to allow movement.

Designer: Penny Thomson

Miniature artist Penny Thomson now sells her stunning handmade creations on Etsy, and each item sells fast that it’s challenging to grab a set. What makes her work unique is that her miniatures are moving sculptures. They are amazing replicas of animals, dragons, birds, fairies, and other creatures. These animals are further brought to life by using a simple crank and wires positioned with precision. You’d really wonder how she can do every figure and movement despite the size.

The miniaturist has already sold hundreds of miniatures with the latest figures, including the Little Hunter, Little Dragon, Hunting Tawny, Raven, Tawny Owl, and a Lichen Fairy. We have a few favorites, too: the Barn Owl, Seal Pup, Green Turtle, and Frosted Blackberries. These are just a few, and we believe more animated miniature creatures will be released by the artist. You may want to watch out for her post on Etsy to catch if you’d be able to purchase one from the Automata series.

Penny Thomson’s miniature art is a unique art form. She’s always been interested in making small and intricate creations. Most of them are magical and original, so no wonder people are really patronizing her work. Her passion for nature and desire to protect the planet is evident in her work as she regularly experiments with new methods and materials.

From the Miniature Automata collection, we focus on our favorites starting with the seal pup. The cute aquatic mammal wriggles while its flippers moves when cranked. The little seal appears washed ashore on a rock full of seaweeds. The Barn Owl flaps when the handle is turned, but what makes this more interesting is the bonus mouse popping in and out of a hole surrounded by Derbyshire stone wall, moss, and ivy.

The meticulous design of the Green Turtle’s shell is beautiful, while the flippers look cute when moving. The sea fans and corals are delicately modeled that you’d ask about how the artist had the patience to do all these. Finally, the Frosted Blackberries is about a Robin and a little mouse in snowy surroundings. The bird is perching on top of a tree trunk while the mouse is munching on frozen blackberries underneath.

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