Eloise Kruger Gallery of Miniatures

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Eloise Kruger Gallery of Miniatures Welcome to The Eloise Kruger Gallery of Miniatures! We are located on the 8th floor of Oldfather Hall on UNL's City Campus. Admission is free.

Open First Fridays (September-May) from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. and by easy appointment throughout the year.

✨ Miniature Monday✨From exquisite miniature furniture to the historic houses of Hever Castle!Before creating an entire c...
10/19/2026

✨ Miniature Monday✨

From exquisite miniature furniture to the historic houses of Hever Castle!

Before creating an entire collection of miniature historic houses for England's Hever Castle, John J. Hodgson was already demonstrating his extraordinary woodworking skills through pieces like this magnificent mahogany Chippendale-style secretary, handcrafted in 1978.

Working under the name E L F Miniatures, Hodgson was an English artisan whose attention to historical detail and precision craftsmanship is beautifully illustrated in this remarkable piece from the Eloise Kruger Collection.

The secretary's upper bookcase features two working glass doors with delicate geometric fretwork, three interior shelves, and a graceful broken pediment crowned with a tiny brass urn. Below, a working slant-front desk opens to reveal an intricate arrangement of pigeonholes and tiny drawers. The lower section contains additional working drawers accented with fine gold-colored inlay and round brass k***s. The entire piece rests on elegant ogee bracket feet.

And yes, even those incredibly tiny drawers actually open!

Hodgson's talent extended well beyond individual pieces of furniture. He later created a remarkable collection of miniature historic houses for Hever Castle in Kent, England, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. His work there reflects the same fascination with historical architecture, intricate detail, and craftsmanship that makes this 1978 secretary so extraordinary.

From the delicate fretwork of its glass doors to the carefully fitted drawers and brass hardware, this secretary is a wonderful example of the artistry that Eloise Kruger recognized and appreciated in the miniature makers whose work she collected.

✨ Visit the Eloise Kruger Gallery of Miniatures to discover this extraordinary secretary and thousands more tiny treasures from Eloise's remarkable collection. Admission is always free!

💛 Like, share, and follow us for more miniature moments, tiny treasures, and the latest gallery happenings!

✨ Tiny Treasures Thursday✨This week, we returned to cataloging seating furniture, creating 24 additional catalog records...
10/15/2026

✨ Tiny Treasures Thursday✨

This week, we returned to cataloging seating furniture, creating 24 additional catalog records and bringing our grand total to 4,610 records documenting the remarkable Eloise Kruger Collection.

Featured here are just five of this week's finds: a handsome wooden mantel-back hall settee; a pair of Petite Princess armchairs dressed in vibrant red brocade; a beautifully patterned wingback settee by renowned miniaturist Mell Prescott; a charming red plaster armchair occupied by a sleeping cat; and an ornate black Victorian-style armchair by Iron Art.

From finely crafted wooden frames and luxurious fabrics to molded plaster and metal, these pieces demonstrate the remarkable variety of materials, styles, and craftsmanship represented in Eloise's collection.

✨ Whether elegant, practical, or just plain whimsical, every piece has its own personality and story to tell.

Visit the Eloise Kruger Gallery of Miniatures to discover these and thousands more tiny treasures from Eloise’s remarkable collection. Admission is always free!

💛 Like, share, and follow us for more miniature moments, tiny treasures, and gallery happenings!

In a collection this vast and eclectic, we never know what we'll uncover next.

Documenting the artistry, one object at a time.

✨ Miniature Monday✨This beautifully crafted Queen Anne kneehole desk was created in 1976 by American miniaturist Ernie L...
10/12/2026

✨ Miniature Monday✨

This beautifully crafted Queen Anne kneehole desk was created in 1976 by American miniaturist Ernie Levy (Isaac Levy) of Liberty, New York. Made from mahogany, balsa wood, and brass, the desk features working drawers, ornate Chippendale-style brass batwing hardware, and a delightful surprise: a tiny cupboard with a working door tucked into the kneehole beneath the desktop!

But the story of the artisan behind this remarkable piece is just as interesting as the desk itself.

Long before he began crafting miniature furniture, Ernie Levy was an accomplished model builder. From 1935 to 1974, he built model aircraft, boats, ships, trains, and automobiles. In 1958, he graduated from the Chicago School of Watchmaking under his legal name, Isaac Levy. By 1975, he had turned his talents toward miniature furniture and clocks, bringing decades of model-building experience and precision training to an entirely new craft.

Working under the name Ernie Levy Museum Quality Furniture and Clocks, Levy became known for his historically inspired furniture and intricate clocks, some incorporating working watch movements. His creations included elaborate desks, finely carved tables, and remarkably detailed timepieces. By the late 1970s, his work was appearing at miniature shows and attracting the attention of collectors.

Eloise's 1976 desk is a wonderful example of the skill and attention to detail that characterized his work. From the carefully fitted drawers to the concealed cupboard and decorative brass hardware, this little piece demonstrates how beautifully traditional furniture could be recreated on a remarkably small scale.

✨ Visit the Eloise Kruger Gallery of Miniatures to discover this extraordinary desk and thousands more treasures collected by Eloise from miniature makers around the world.

💛 Like, follow, and share to help others discover these tiny treasures!

Tiny Treasures Thursday✨This week, our cataloging efforts focused on ceramic and glass housewares from the Eloise Kruger...
10/08/2026

Tiny Treasures Thursday✨

This week, our cataloging efforts focused on ceramic and glass housewares from the Eloise Kruger Collection. We created 19 additional catalog records, bringing our grand total to 4,586 records documenting Eloise's extraordinary collection.

Featured here are just five of this week's finds: an elegant white glass pitcher, a graduated set of three bowls decorated with flowers and colorful rims, a tiny lampwork glass teacup and saucer, an intriguing moustache cup, and a beautifully decorated teacup and saucer with a gilded handle.

The moustache cup is particularly interesting. A clever invention popular during the Victorian era, full-sized versions featured a special ledge inside the cup designed to keep a gentleman's carefully groomed moustache dry while he enjoyed his tea or coffee. Of course, Eloise's collection includes a miniature version!

✨ Visit the Eloise Kruger Gallery of Miniatures to discover these and thousands more treasures from Eloise's remarkable collection.

🩷 Like, follow, and share to help others discover these tiny treasures!

In a collection this vast and eclectic, we never know what we'll uncover next.

Documenting the artistry, one object at a time.

Miniature Monday✨This wonderfully detailed Shaker tailoring counter was handcrafted in 1978 by Paul E. Rouleau of Roulea...
10/05/2026

Miniature Monday✨

This wonderfully detailed Shaker tailoring counter was handcrafted in 1978 by Paul E. Rouleau of Rouleau Reproductions in Quincy, Massachusetts. Eloise purchased the piece directly from Rouleau that same year.

The light cherry-finished counter may look simple at first, but it is anything but. Five working drawers are arranged on three sides, with tiny wooden k***s and heart-shaped brass escutcheons. Pull open the long front drawer and you’ll discover 16 miniature spools of brightly colored thread tucked neatly inside. The broad top would have served as the work surface on its full-size counterpart.

Rouleau came to miniatures with years of experience as a hobby woodworker making full-size furniture. He and his wife, Dolly, shared an interest in country and colonial furniture, so those traditional forms naturally found their way into his miniature work. His first miniature furnishings were made for room boxes for their daughter, Paula. Paula and Dolly later showed Paul's work to a local shop owner, who was so impressed that she wanted more—and a miniature-making career was underway.

Working as Rouleau Reproductions, Paul became particularly known for historically inspired country, colonial, and Shaker furniture. He constructed his pieces himself right down to the hardware, and functional details were an important part of his work. Shaker pieces were among his personal favorites—making Eloise’s tailoring counter an especially fitting example of his craftsmanship.

Rouleau also became an influential member of the miniature community. He served for several years on the National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts (NAME) Board of Directors and later as NAME President. He was inducted into the Academy of Honor in 1987 and went on to receive the Mell Prescott Memorial Award in 1995.

From a father making miniature furnishings for his daughter to a nationally recognized artisan and leader in the miniature community, Paul Rouleau left quite a legacy—and this remarkable little counter gives us a delightful glimpse of it.

For anyone interested in learning more about Paul Rouleau and his work, much of the information in our Miniature Monday feature comes from historical issues of the National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts (NAME), Miniature Gazette.

✨ Visit the Eloise Kruger Gallery of Miniatures to see this extraordinary tailoring counter and thousands more treasures collected by Eloise from miniature makers around the world.

💛 Like, follow, and share to help others discover these tiny treasures!

🏠✨ First Friday at the Eloise Kruger Gallery of Miniatures!Looking for something to do tomorrow? Join us for First Frida...
10/01/2026

🏠✨ First Friday at the Eloise Kruger Gallery of Miniatures!

Looking for something to do tomorrow?

Join us for First Friday in the Gallery, Friday, October 2, from 3–6 p.m.!

Come explore Eloise Kruger’s extraordinary miniature world, where tiny rooms are filled with furniture, artwork, books, clocks, curious cats, and countless details waiting to be discovered.

📅 Friday, October 2
⏰ 3:00–6:00 p.m.
🎟️ Admission is always FREE and open to the public!

Bring a friend, take a closer look, and see just how much there is to discover in miniature. We look forward to welcoming you to the gallery!

🐾 Tiny Treasures Thursday✨Eloise collected many miniature cats and dogs, and this week we returned to this delightful gr...
10/01/2026

🐾 Tiny Treasures Thursday✨

Eloise collected many miniature cats and dogs, and this week we returned to this delightful group, creating 12 additional catalog records. We’ve now reached 4,567 records in our ongoing work to document an extraordinary collection estimated to contain around 20,000 pieces.

Featured here are just five of this week’s finds.

From finely modeled porcelain figures to wonderfully expressive cold-painted metal miniatures, these little companions are another reminder of the remarkable variety Eloise brought together. And with many more cats and dogs still waiting to be documented, we’re certain they’ll wander back into a future Tiny Treasures Thursday!

✨ Visit the Eloise Kruger Gallery of Miniatures to discover these and thousands more pieces from Eloise’s extraordinary collection.

💛 Like, follow, and share to help others discover these tiny treasures!

In a collection this vast and eclectic, we never know what we’ll uncover next.

Documenting the artistry, one object at a time.

🪑 Miniature Monday✨Sometimes a miniature tells us almost everything about itself—but then still leaves us with one tanta...
09/28/2026

🪑 Miniature Monday✨

Sometimes a miniature tells us almost everything about itself—but then still leaves us with one tantalizing mystery.

This lively New England-style blanket chest was purchased by Eloise from Three Sisters Handicraft Co. on May 23, 1976. Painted a warm mustard yellow and covered with wonderfully exuberant red concentric-dot decoration, the chest has a hinged lift-top, two working drawers with tiny white porcelain k***s, shaped brass hinges, and a plinth base.

Turn it over, and we find a clue: “JD 76” marked on the bottom. The date corresponds with Eloise's 1976 purchase, but so far the identity of J.D. remains a mystery. Eloise's records indicate that the piece was made in either Connecticut or Pennsylvania, but we have not yet been able to connect those initials with a documented miniature artisan working in the region at that time.

And that's part of what makes cataloging this collection so fascinating. Sometimes research gives us an answer; other times an object gives us a clue and invites us to keep looking.

The chest itself is certainly memorable. Its energetic painted decoration gives a traditional furniture form an almost playful personality, while its working drawers and hinged lid make it as functional as it is decorative. It’s also another wonderful example of the tremendous variety Eloise chose to collect.

🔎 Do the initials “JD” look familiar? If you recognize the maker or remember a miniature artisan using this mark in the 1970s, we would love to hear from you!

✨ Visit the Eloise Kruger Gallery of Miniatures to see this delightful chest and thousands more remarkable pieces from Eloise’s extraordinary collection.

🩷 Like, follow, and share to help others discover these tiny treasures!

Tiny Art, Big Creativity! 🎨🏠Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of welcoming visiting students from Saitama Universi...
09/25/2026

Tiny Art, Big Creativity! 🎨🏠

Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of welcoming visiting students from Saitama University in Japan to the Eloise Kruger Gallery of Miniatures for two weeks of hands-on learning, creativity, and exploration!

The students tried their hands at several different aspects of gallery work. They learned to make miniature boxes and fabric bolts, then combined their creations with pieces from Eloise Kruger’s collection to curate a delightful miniature shop exhibit. They also got an introduction to museum cataloging, helping us examine photographs and identify objects from the collection.

And, of course, they became miniature artists themselves! 🎨 Each student created an original tiny painting for our upcoming Miniature Art Show. From landscapes and favorite places to animals and other personal subjects, their paintings are wonderful examples of just how much creativity can fit into a very small space.

We loved having the Saitama students working, learning, and creating alongside us—and now their artwork will be part of the show!

✨ Come see their paintings, along with many more charming, whimsical, fun, and fascinating works of miniature art, when the exhibition opens First Friday, November 6. The show will continue through First Friday, December 4.

🏠 Current Gallery Hours
Tuesdays | 1:00–4:00 p.m.
First Fridays | 3:00–6:00 p.m.
And by easy appointment!
Admission is always FREE!

We'll announce special extended hours for the Miniature Art Show at the beginning of November.

A big thank you to our friends from Saitama University for spending part of their Nebraska visit with us. ❤️

Tiny Treasures Thursday✨With hundreds of dolls in the Eloise Kruger Collection, there are still many waiting their turn ...
09/24/2026

Tiny Treasures Thursday✨

With hundreds of dolls in the Eloise Kruger Collection, there are still many waiting their turn to be photographed, researched, and documented. This week we returned our attention to the dolls and created 26 additional catalog records, bringing our total to 4,555 records documenting Eloise’s extraordinary collection.

Featured here are just five of this week’s finds. From an elegantly dressed woman surrounded by layers of delicate cream lace and a maid in her apron and cap, to a formally dressed gentleman, a fashionable lady in pink, and a little girl in a blue floral dress, each has its own distinctive personality and wonderful miniature details.

✨ Visit the Eloise Kruger Gallery of Miniatures to discover these and thousands more remarkable pieces from Eloise’s extraordinary collection.

❤️ Like, follow, and share to help others discover these tiny treasures!

In a collection this vast and eclectic, we never know what we’ll uncover next.

Documenting the artistry, one object at a time.

Address

660 N 12th Street, OLDH 831
Lincoln, NE
68588

Telephone

(402)4722411

Website

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