Miniaturist Angela Kinnunen of Raptoor Crafting always has something unique and interesting on the go. For a recent edition of Dolls House & Miniature Scene, I was delighted to interview her to write an article on her Wonky Wonderland in 1:48 scale with photography by Rob Tysall resulting in a very pleasing 4-page article being published in the magazine.
Other recent work by Angela has straddled both sides of the ‘pond’, featuring quintessential English character, Sherlock Holmes – and the American Wild West. In April of this year, Angela travelled to Chicago for the Tom Bishop Show. She hadn’t exhibited there before and found the event to be amazing. She sold quite a lot of her miniatures at the show including her Sherlock Holmes room box, so had to get busy replenishing stocks when she got home – although she never repeats a scene, it’s always something new and unique.
At the Tom Bishop Show, her Sherlock Holmes room box was quickly snapped up by a Sherlock Holmes fan – although they don’t come any keener than Angela herself. She says she was brought up on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle books as her dad was a massive fan – Hound of the Baskervilles being a favourite.
Talking to me about her Sherlock room box, 221B Baker Street, she explained that it’s a mix of various films released from as early as 1939 when actor Basil Rathbone played Sherlock, right through to more modern times such as the 2009 films starring Robert Downey Jnr and Jude Law. The room box also paid reference to the TV series with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, and even touched on the American Elementary TV series starring Jonny Lee Miller.
If you had chance to see Angela’s Sherlock room box, you’ll see it shrouded in mystery, with all the accessories there for a reason, relating in some way to the actor playing the role, and even setting up their own little mysteries.
“I wanted people to relate to the era that means something to them,” said Angela. “There’s the deerstalker hat of Basil Rathbones times, the wallpaper from the series with Benedict. Sherlock Holmes was useless with money, so you’ll see money scattered around the room, although you might wonder why there are some US dollars lying about. There’s a violin and a cello, there’s pictures on the wall – who were these people? A folded newspaper reporting on Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. But why is there a Victorian iron?
“Sherlock Holmes was curious about everything, and this is reflected through everything strewn about in his office. I had a lot of fun furnishing and accessorising the room box. And as I mentioned it wasn’t out on my table at the show for very long before it was snapped up by a woman who just “had to have it!”
The Wild Wild West! 1:48 style.
From London to the Wild West, and Angela particularly wanted to appeal to male miniature enthusiasts by making a Wild West set of items, with room boxes of Wild West scenes – such as a jailhouse, a saloon, a general store and an undertakers complete with coffins! At some point she will also be making a bank and all in 1:48 scale – plus kits.
“I wanted to do something different,” said Angela. “So, with these, I’ve made Prairie Wagons, you’ll remember, with the white oval canopy that the settlers used. They have all got suspension and the wheels turn. If I make something I want it to work and be fully operational, that’s why I learned how to engineer a suspension for example. I had to do a lot of studying on how suspension works on those old wagons. In all of my previous models there are working components. It’s not easy when you consider these are 1/48 scale.”
Recently Angela has been making the furniture for her Wild West rooms – beds, a piano and a bar for the saloon, coffins for the undertakers. Kate Pinsent has made her a cowboy and saloon girl – there might also be a dead cowboy soon too! “I had to do a lot of research and watch a lot of western movies. Clint Eastwood practically became my best friend!”
Angela will be bringing her Wild West miniatures to Miniatura and lots more besides. Be sure to pop by and see what she’s been up to.
Further details: https://www.raptoorcrafting.com/