Finding out what someone would like as a gift doesn't have to be a huge, secret affair. Asking the individual what they'd like is the best way to buy a gift they'll treasure. You will, of course, have to resort to some sneaky methods to keep your purchase a surprise. Innocent questions about their hobby that appear as idle curiosity can help reveal what you need to buy a gift. With a little creativity to your conversation, you can even find out what the person would like to add to the miniature collection or dollhouse in the future. Mention scale as well, because you'll need to know what size of piece to buy. You may end up receiving a thorough lesson though!
A gift should be one that shares sentimentality with the receiver. Choosing a miniature piece that means something to you both or represents an experience you and the person had together is a very nice gesture. The gift will be appreciated on many different levels. Think of a serious or life-changing experience you had together or a funny moment you shared. You might be able to find a miniature piece that looks like a person you both know, such as a relative or the collector himself.
Keep in mind that most miniature dollhouses are fashioned around a specific decorative theme. Make sure that the piece or pieces that you choose to not clash badly with the rest of the miniature collection. If it doesn’t match well then the collector, while appreciative of the gift, may be hesitant to display it with the rest of the miniature collection.
Some collectors choose to display individual pieces outside of the dollhouse setting. These collectors take delight in displaying each miniature piece as its own work of art. If this is the case with your miniature enthusiast, then you may just want to find a piece created by their favorite artisan. Most collectors can tell you fairly quickly whose work they admire and whose work would be a treasured addition to their collection.
