History of mannequin
Mannequin: Story of its originMannequins have always fascinated human beings. Be it a kid or a grown up, we all tend to stop for a moment to witness their larger than life image at window displays in the retail stores and malls. However, what makes them so captivating remains a big question whose answer lies only in its saga that romances royals and shows its ardor to present day multitude buyers as well. The mannequins are yet to reach their zenith yet their journey has been appealing till here. Let’s take this fascinating voyage with mannequins that would ride us through their ups and downs, till their present stature.
Mannequins in Early 15th Century
The mannequin is derived from a French term and means "an artist's jointed model" and their use started as early as the 15th century. This was the time when the smaller version of “milliners’ mannequins” was employed in order to exhibit fashions. Often kings and queens like Pharaohs would get a mannequin made of their body dimension. The court dressers would tailor special outfits for the royals and display them on the mannequin. This crude dress form was designed to avoid fitting embarrassments to the kings and queens.
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Antique mannequin for restoration at studionick.com
20th Century MannequinsRealism and flexibility came into mannequins post First World War, yet their pragmatism became omnipresent in 1930 by Lester Gaba, a soap sculptor. All the credit to make mannequins more stable goes to him as he not only created “Gaba Girls”, six specimens made from plaster but also gave a future to figurines. These dummies were loves by the elite of New York. Gaba would take along the Cynthia, his sitting dummy to all celebrated venues like the opera and Stock Club.
With Second World War, things solemn down and the mannequins appeared downhearted. As soon as the war was over by end of 1940s, everything transformed to a happy and joyful note. Male mannequins now were calmer and would often see smoking pipes. 1950s saw fresh material emerging for their production and by 1960s mass production of plastic mannequins with fiberglass became fashion. In last forty to fifty years, technology has advanced leading to artistic and conceivable designs. Today, there is no limit to their ingenuity and inventiveness. |
Industrial Revolution as Catalyst to Mannequin Manufacturing
There is no museum display and written records of mannequins until the industrial revolution. However, late 17th century saw the emergence of wire-framed versions of mannequins. They were stuffed with leather but were not employed in store displays. What brought these mannequins to the store was the creation of plate glass, sewing machine and the filament lamp. These acted as the catalyst for installation of window panes in retail shops by 1880. Since large quantities of clothing could now be made, the middle class could also spend on fashionable clothes, which was earlier the cartel of royalties. Since more shops were opened, more mannequins were employed in the stores.
During this era, mannequins were manufactured from wood, wax and other heavy fabrics and their bottoms were made from iron to keep them erect. Sawdust and papier-mâché was employed to shape them up and the result had to be expensive, heavy and maintenance weighty structure. Still, mannequins were in large demand owing to the transforming fashion interests and emergence of “window trimming” or the 'visual merchandising' industry. There was just one upshot that was evident by the end of the 18th century and that was mannequins behind department store windows bearing the latest trends in fashion. This was also the period of window trimmers using their artistic side other than the practical in order to meet the expectations of the crowd who admired watching fashion displayed on mannequins. Thus, these “artist's jointed models” see a great future from being a mere prop used for displaying merchandise to being a more genuine form with glass eyes, facial expressions and real hair.
Author: Kamal Mohta
During this era, mannequins were manufactured from wood, wax and other heavy fabrics and their bottoms were made from iron to keep them erect. Sawdust and papier-mâché was employed to shape them up and the result had to be expensive, heavy and maintenance weighty structure. Still, mannequins were in large demand owing to the transforming fashion interests and emergence of “window trimming” or the 'visual merchandising' industry. There was just one upshot that was evident by the end of the 18th century and that was mannequins behind department store windows bearing the latest trends in fashion. This was also the period of window trimmers using their artistic side other than the practical in order to meet the expectations of the crowd who admired watching fashion displayed on mannequins. Thus, these “artist's jointed models” see a great future from being a mere prop used for displaying merchandise to being a more genuine form with glass eyes, facial expressions and real hair.
Author: Kamal Mohta
Interesting use of mannequins
We always think of mannequin as a tool to display clothings however it has been used in many alternate and somewhat bizarre ways.
Mannequins were successfully used in war in ancient China in the battle of Yong Qiu. Soldiers of the tang dynasty while defending the castle under attach used mannequin (scarecrow). They lowered those scarecrow down the walls of the castle. Attacker's archers showered them with arrows. Once those mannequins were full with arrows Tang soldiers took them back there by not only diverting the enemy attack but also replenishing dwindling supply of arrows.
New medical students use mannequins extensively in the early part of a program to get a better understanding of human anatomy. In fact special mannequins for medical purpose is manufactured and supplied to medical colleges.
Dummies are used to check vehicle safety standards and understand the impact of trauma caused in simulated auto crash. They are typically referred as crash test dummies.
Mannequins were successfully used in war in ancient China in the battle of Yong Qiu. Soldiers of the tang dynasty while defending the castle under attach used mannequin (scarecrow). They lowered those scarecrow down the walls of the castle. Attacker's archers showered them with arrows. Once those mannequins were full with arrows Tang soldiers took them back there by not only diverting the enemy attack but also replenishing dwindling supply of arrows.
New medical students use mannequins extensively in the early part of a program to get a better understanding of human anatomy. In fact special mannequins for medical purpose is manufactured and supplied to medical colleges.
Dummies are used to check vehicle safety standards and understand the impact of trauma caused in simulated auto crash. They are typically referred as crash test dummies.
