I know we can keep a plant small with pruning and especially if containerized. But i want to know which varieties are naturally relatively petite and compact and yet productive. I know VdB is but what else?

Bianchetta

Everything about it is small. The dark green leaves are small as well as the fruit.
The plants is relatively small too. But pruning is ideal.

Good luck

Negretta fits the bill in my yard and produces.

I think it depends on the design of the tree.

me i like one main trunk with side branches at a 90 degree angle which gives me good ratio of figs per sqm and if i dont bump into the pot i dont hit any of its branches...  bushy types can grow to the sides...

This may be the smallest of them all. You can grow it in doors.   http://www.logees.com/Fig-Petite-Negra-Ficus-carica/productinfo/R1710-4/

Petite Negri from Edible Landscaping is extremely compact (its riddled with FMD). Black Jack is compact but grows a bit larger than the Petite Negri EL. There are other figs named "Petite Negri" which are not compact growers. IMO The best bet is to grow a healthier variety, establish scaffold branches and prune back to scaffold branches yearly.

LSU Tiger is pretty compact.

Gino's Black. I think it is a very attractive tree also.

Great. Keep them coming. Thanks.

Are both Barnisotte and Hardy Chicago considered compact too?

LSU Tiger will get huge just give it a big pot and time. Petite negra also gets fairly large in time, commercial nurseries descriptions notwithstanding. The best candidate for small and compact may we be what has been called the Wilmington creeper. Rafed's Bianchetta may also be pretty compact