From modernist icons to contemporary experiments, these reproductions tell the story of industrial design through a reduced format. A journey through collections, special editions, and designer reinterpretations that transform design into objects to observe, collect, and display.
For over two decades, the Vitra Design Museum has been producing miniature replicas of the most significant pieces in its collection. The Miniatures Collection encapsulates the entire history of industrial design furniture, spanning from Historicism and Art Nouveau to Bauhaus and New Objectivity, from Radical Design and Postmodernism right up to the present day. Scaled precisely to one-sixth of their original size, the chairs meticulously recreate even the tiniest details of construction, material, and color. The high standards of authenticity even extend to the natural grain of the wood, the reproduction of screws, and the replication of elaborate artisanal techniques.
Egg & Swan by Fritz Hansen, design Arne Jacobsen
CACTUS® by Gufram
Fritz Hansen has produced several icons of Danish design in miniature format, such as the celebrated Egg and Swan chairs designed by Arne Jacobsen. These elegant reproductions, available in red and black variations, reinterpret the organic and enveloping forms of the original models in a scaled-down version. Conceived as decorative and collectible items, they are ideal for display on shelves, side tables, or bookshelves. Each piece is hand-upholstered with great attention to detail, following the same artisanal process used for the full-size versions and maintaining material and constructive consistency with the original design.
They are called Guframini, the ‘minion’ versions of Gufram‘s celebrated pieces. At a 1:8 scale, these objects encapsulate the essence of their full-size counterparts, preserving a wealth of detail. Created using specialized molds and sophisticated painting processes, each piece is further hand-finished to ensure uniqueness and quality. Pictured: CACTUS®, one of the most representative models.
Don’do miniature by Poltrona Frau
The armchairs that have made design history are reproduced in reduced dimensions by Poltrona Frau Style & Design Centre with the same precision, care, and perfection as the originals. Each model is handcrafted using the same materials and finishes and is upholstered in soft Pelle Frau® leather. The reproduced chairs—Vanity Fair, Dezza 24, Don’do (pictured), Intervista, and Archibald—are exactly one-fifth of their actual size.
Archimera by Salvatori, design Federico Babina
The Village is a special Salvatori project, born from Gabriele Salvatori’s desire to revisit the fundamental archetype of the home in a modern and global key, through the development of design accessories with significant conceptual value. The collection consists of a series of imaginary houses, conceived and created with the aim of drawing attention back to important and essential themes of contemporary living. Numerous designers were involved: Rodolfo Dordoni, Kengo Kuma, Elisa Ossino, John Pawson, Patricia Urquiola, Vincent Van Duysen, and Yabu & Pushelberg. Pictured: Archimera, designed by Federico Babina.
