Smallest handmade illuminated sculpture

The smallest handmade illuminated sculpture is a recreation of the Golden Temple of Amritsar in Punjab, India, which has dimensions of 1.5 x 0.75 mm and was created in 2023 by David A Lindon (UK) in Bournemouth, Dorset, UK, as verified on 12 March 2025.

The bijou building, which fits on the head of a pin, contains a tiny light-emitting diode connected by a strand of copper wire that can be turned on and off. The actual Golden Temple, one of the holiest sites in Sikhism, measures approximately 61.5 x 6.5 m (202 x 21 ft).

Lindon has been a micro sculptor since 2018 and is now one of the world's best-known artists in this field. He has created hundreds of tiny artworks including sculptures of animals, buildings, vehicles and characters, as well as recreations of famous paintings.

He also has claimed the record for the smallest handmade sculpture overall: a recreation of a red one-spot 1x1 LEGO brick that is just 0.02517 x 0.02184 mm - which is about the size of a white blood cell! - as confirmed on 1 August 2024.

In order to make his tiny creations, Lindon – who trained in the military as a precision instrument engineer – has developed a carefully calibrated process, including only working mainly at night (with no vibrations outside from passing traffic), bespoke tiny tools and even regulating his breathing and heartbeat to keep his hand as steady as possible when working on his sculptures under a powerful microscope.