STYLE : DESIGN : Tipping the Scale

The exquisite detail of miniature furniture is enough to bring tears to the eyes of the most jaded connoisseur. No aspect of full-size furniture is too difficult to duplicate: dovetail joints, brass drawer pulls, elaborate inlays, veneers made of exotic woods from distant places. Even lacy Victorian wicker can be simulated with waxed linen thread twisted over wire.

With a staggering array of decorating styles to choose from today, collectors can re-create the decor of any era with their Lilliputian furnishings. A handsome desk of inlaid burled wood suggests 17th-Century England. A rough-hewn horn chair harks back to the days of early America. And an overstuffed love seat with a brass coffee table mirrors more recent tastes and times.

While most of these works of art can fit in the palm of your hand, the only thing that isn’t tiny is their price. Some can easily run into four figures, depending on materials and craftsmanship. Happily, though, there are plenty of miniatures that cost less than $100--a real steal when it comes to having your dream home.