Little Wonders
The number of reasons people like tiny things is, well, anything but small. Over the years, anthropologists and psychoanalysts have come up with quite a few theories to explain "miniacs." Cute little things trigger our instinctive desire to play, these experts note. Miniatures can make us feel powerful, and they help us understand systems we can’t visualize at full scale. And dollhouses and other micro-tableaux let us live in fantasy worlds where, say, the living room is always pristine. But at the same time that diminutive objects meet deep psychological needs, some have practical and tangible applications as well. Ahead, we’ve rounded up a slew of adorable undersized products you can actually use, whether you’re a collector, an office worker yearning for a desktop distraction, or a person in need of a palm-sized plaything that won't be easily noticed by others.
Prices and availability are subject to change.