Micro Sculptures: Proof That Great Things Can Come In Small Sizes

By All That's Interesting | Edited By Savannah Cox

Published April 21, 2015

Updated January 31, 2018

Other artists have fully embraced the advantages offered by modern technology. Techniques such as laser sculpting and 3D printing make it possible to create pieces so small they make Dalton’s work seem like giant marble statues. In fact, most of these are measured in microns and require a microscope to see.

Dustin Carr created this nano guitar created in 1997 at Cornell University. It is about the size of a red blood cell. It does have real strings and can be played using a laser, but human ears cannot hear the sound. Source: Mandolin Cafe

This is probably the most intricate micro sculpture ever created. It was made by Nanoscribe, a German company specializing in 3D laser technology, which has also made the mini Brandenburg Gate, the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. It’s only 100 microns in height. Source: Futura Sciences

In terms of technique, John Hart’s 2008 collection of Nanobama heads is unique. Each head is composed of roughly 150 million individual carbon tubes aligned to create a recognizable shape. Source: Nanobama

Jonty Hurwitz

Last year, artist Jonty Hurwitz wanted to set a new record for making the smallest sculpture in the world. He perfected a technique where he would take hundreds of pictures of life-size models and then program them into a 3D printer to create something very, very tiny, but that preserved the fine details. One of his works was inspired by Antonio Canova’s “Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss”.

Source: Jonty Hurwitz

“Cupid and Psyche” displayed on the head of an ant Source: Jonty Hurwitz

Hurwitz’s crowning achievement was known as “Trust”. Measuring 80 by 100 microns, it is the smallest sculpture in the world. There’s just one problem: it’s gone. As you might imagine, keeping track of these miniature marvels is quite a daunting task. During a presentation, the electron microscope operator accidentally dropped the slide containing the work of art. The work remains lost, so whether Hurwitz holds the official record for “smallest sculpture” hasn’t been decided yet.

Source: Chem Pics

“Trust” in the eye of a needle Source: Jonty Hurwitz

author

Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.

editor

Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.