Contemporary · Architecture

Musée Miniature et Cinéma

Lyon

Musée Miniature et Cinéma, formerly known as musée des miniatures et décors de cinéma, is a private museum founded in 2005 by the miniaturist artist Dan Ohlmann. It is located on rue Saint-Jean in Lyon and is housed in the historic classified building of the former Maison des avocats. The museum is directed by Julien Dumont.

Its history is linked to earlier miniature displays in Lyon, including the Palais de la Miniature on rue Juiverie, which operated for eight years before closing in 2000 because of high operating costs. After that closure, the miniatures were transferred to the Musée Grévin. In 2002, Gisela Oeri acquired the Maison des avocats with the intention of opening a miniature museum and purchased miniatures from Dan Ohlmann, leading to the inauguration of the Musée international de la miniature under his direction.

The museum has two permanent collections: one devoted to miniature art and the other to cinema special effects techniques. It conserves the complete collection of Dan Ohlmann’s works on the top floor, as well as works by Ronan-Jim Sévellec, Julien Martinez, Françoise Andres, Yves Chouard, and Michel Perez. The cinema section includes twelve rooms with original equipment, masks, prosthetics, matte paintings, life-size sets, animatronics, miniature vehicles, models, costumes, stop motion, 3D animation, and digital effects.

Map showing the location of Musée Miniature et Cinéma in Lyon
Location of Musée Miniature et Cinéma in Lyon

Nearby Objects

Museum Setting and Background

The Musee Miniature et Cinema, formerly known as the Musee des miniatures et decors de cinema, is a private museum founded in 2005 by the miniaturist artist Dan Ohlmann. It is located on rue Saint-Jean in Lyon and is housed in the historic classified building of the former Maison des avocats. The museum has been directed by Julien Dumont since an unspecified date.

From the Palais de la Miniature to the Museum

Historique opened the Palais de la Miniature on rue Juiverie in the former ticket office of the funicular Saint-Paul - Fourviere. The venue operated for eight years before closing in 2000 because of high operating costs. After the closure, the miniatures were transferred to the Musee Grevin. In 2002, Historique noted the Lyon Bar Association's intention to sell the Maison des avocats, and recorded that Gisela Oeri acquired the building in order to open a miniature museum. Historique also documented Gisela Oeri's purchase of miniatures from Dan Ohlmann, and the inauguration of the Musee international de la miniature led by Dan Ohlmann.

Collections and Cinema Effects

The Musee Miniature et Cinema has two permanent collections: one devoted to miniature art and the other to special effects techniques used in cinema. The museum conserves the complete collection of Dan Ohlmann's works on its top floor, along with works by Ronan-Jim Sevellec, Julien Martinez, Francoise Andres, Yves Chouard, and Michel Perez.

A major part of the museum is made up of twelve rooms dedicated to cinema special effects techniques, with original equipment and pieces on display. These rooms include masks, prosthetics, matte paintings, and life-size sets, as well as animatronics, miniature vehicles, models, costumes, stop motion, 3D animation, and digital effects. Among the displayed film-related sets are rooms from Le Parfum, histoire d'un meurtrier, including cave, workshop, office, and perfume shop settings. The museum also exhibits the animatronic queen from Alien vs Predator, an animatronic monster from an unidentified source, and the flying galleon Richelieu from Les Trois Mousquetaires by Paul W. S. Anderson.