Buyer Being Sought for Mott’s Miniatures

Christopher Mott said his family didn’t start building miniatures for money. But that’s precisely why the family tradition may end.

Dismayed by the lack of paying customers at the family’s Mott’s Miniatures Museum, Mott closed the venue in April and is now shopping the vast collection to prospective buyers.

“If we can’t display them, there’s no point in having them,” said Mott, who has put the family’s hand-crafted scenes of Americana back into storage.

The collection was exhibited for 34 years at Knott’s Berry Farm, where generations of Southland residents got to view such gems as “The Last Supper” painted on the head of a pin.

Knott’s terminated the family’s lease in 1992. The exhibits were packed away until late last year, when the family returned them to public view by opening the museum next to their miniatures retail shop in Buena Park.

It was a proud moment for Mott, but unfortunately the museum didn’t generate enough revenue to cover the rent and utilities. He says he has contacted other museums about leasing the collection and would like to see it displayed and preserved intact. Still, Mott says he has been offered “considerable” sums from collectors in the past--a temptation that may prove too great this time around.

“That money would provide security for my family,” Mott said. “I used to say some things weren’t for sale. Maybe I was wrong.”

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Marla Dickerson covers tourism for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-5670 and at marla.dickerson@latimes.com.