Christmas in Miniature tradition continues

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on December 4, 2019

Christmas in Miniature at Barbara Moore Fine Art Gallery runs through Dec.31.

It might be only the third year for Christmas in Miniature at Barbara Moore Fine Art Gallery, but it was Moore who started the idea almost 40 years ago when she was the director of The Chadds Ford Gallery. Moore reflected on the beginnings of the miniature show while getting ready for a preview of this year’s event.

Pennsbury Township resident Jenny Fenton, left, considers two pieces of miniature art.

“It was so exciting that first year. No one knew what to expect. I had to send some artists back home to bring in more art because so much was being sold,” she said.

Moore said things haven’t changed too much over the years. The show does feature more artists and buying habits have changed. People who used to buy for their children and grandchildren are now buying for their great-grandchildren.

But Moore’s original intent for the show still hold, offer smaller, original pieces of professional art at a reasonable price — $50 to $400 that first year — so people would buy originals instead of the cheaper reproductions. And while not intended, that would lead to more people learning to invest in art.

Not only was the concept new for a gallery and art buyers, it was also new for the artists, Moore said. Some artists weren’t comfortable working on a smaller scale and definitely weren’t comfortable selling at lower prices. “But,” she explained, “we came down on our commissions so it was a win for everyone, the gallery, the artists and the buyers.”

Some of the changes that have happened did so because of market and business changes. The Barn Shops came under new ownership and The Chadds Ford Gallery officially moved out of Chadds Ford more than three years ago. But Moore stayed on in the same location and began sharing the old gallery space with Arden and James. That business makes and sells handbags, jewelry and stuffed animals and is now part of Christmas in Miniature.

But whether it’s 1983 or 2019, Christmas in Miniature is in its home location in the little gallery in the Barn Shops on Route 1. The show opens officially Dec. 4 and runs through Dec. 31.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.