While thinking about the notion of toys as miniature versions of objects from the adult world I came across this curious relation between our object and the etymology of the word ‘miniature’ which reads:

"a reduced image," from the Italian. miniatura "manuscript illumination or small picture," from pp. of miniare "to illuminate a manuscript," from the Latin. miniare "to paint red," from minium "red lead," used in ancient times to make red ink.