Here is a list of suppliers given at a workshop I attended with the Costume
Society of America (the editorial comments are from the list, compiled by
costume professionals, not just me). There is also a recent book on costume
storage and dressing  in the bookstore section of the CSA website:
www.costumesocietyamerica.com

If you have some specific questions you can e-mail me and I can help
answer. I have dressed many many objects of varying sizes and shapes and
used most of these mannequins
-Elizabeth Walton
www.clothelinejournal.com

Suppliers:

Goldsmith Inc.
Long Island City, NY
(718)937-8476
fax:718-937-4525
(adjustable female figure only, developed for Brooklyn museum)

pucci mannequins
NY
212-219-0142
fax212-925-8542
(stylized male and female figures)


melvin s roos & co.
atlanta
800-241-6897
(commercial display, good inexpensive source)

Wacoal Corporation
makers of the "Kyoto" mannequins
(white fiberglass figures shaped for historical silouettes 18th cent.
empire and victorian)
(these can be wonderful, but are pricey)







From the textile conservation list serve

"this is one of the
most difficult issues that comes up with small historical museums, and
even big ones.  I don't know a simple answer, or even a brief one.
Sorry this reply is so long, but it's a big question.

First of all, it's important to understand that historic dress presents
one of the most complex display challenges there is.  You are dealing
with a large-ish, three-dimensional textile object that is difficult to
handle.  A display mount needs to correctly and completely support the
costume, but beyond that it needs to correctly interpret the period
shape of the costume as well as the individual size and shape of the
wearer.  In addition to knowledge of textiles and their properties, it's
necessary to understand human anatomy and have a good knowledge of
fashion history, period aesthetics, and period undergarments.  If you
don't have these, even the best mannequin won't make your presentation
successful.

"Museum quality" means two things to me.  First, it's a question of
suitable materials.  Foam rubber dressmakers forms are clearly not
museum quality, but many other materials used for mannequins are ok,
including fiberglass and ethafoam.  Surface coatings must also be
considered.  The other issue is that of shape - the mannequin should be
adjustable to adapt to different heights (although this is not true for
most mannequins with fixed legs), and must not have a shape that
conflicts with the fashionable silhouette of the costume (both men's and
women's).  I've never found one mannequin that can adapt to all period
shapes so it's necessary to have a variety.  Some of the best mannequins
have other adjustable parameters, such as waist length and torso and hip
angles.

There is no single answer to the mannequin question, but there are a
number of different options that can be classed "museum quality".

20th century "department store" mannequins are unsuitable for pre-20th
century historic dress not because of materials issues but because of
their inability to assume period shapes.  They will work for a lot of
20th century dress, if you can find mannequins that have fairly neutral
poses.  They also are very tall, and not cheap.  It's possible to buy
reconditioned mannequins of this type for much less than new, and
sometimes department stores will donate old mannequins they no longer
want.

Fiberglass mannequins intended for some periods of historic dress are
made by at least two firms, one in New York and one in Japan.  These are
quite expensive, from $875.00 to almost $2000.00 each, but they are very
easy to work with and last for decades.  (There was another firm that
made less expensive museum mannequins but I can't find them - does
anyone know what happened to Jerry Roe?)

There are several published methods of making your own mannequin, all of
which can be made in various period shapes.  While they can be a lot
less expensive, they present challenges in finding suitable armatures
and bases, and do not usually have attractive heads and hands.  They all
take a fair amount of time, and it takes some effort to make them well.
They also may not stand up to repeated use.

Some costumes can be effectively displayed on supports that are not full
mannequins, and these can take less time to make.

Another option, if you don't need heads and hands, is the dress forms
made by Stockman.  They have four period shapes for women, and I have
ordered some in plain papier-mache for $300.00 apiece; bases and neck
caps are extra.  We will spray them with a sealant before we cover them
with fabric ourselves.  I haven't used them yet but Meredith Montague at
the Museum of Fine Arts has.

Another challenge altogether comes up if you want to represent some
ethnic group other than Caucasian.  I haven't been able to find any
ready-made mannequins of any type that come with different ethnic
features.  When we needed some American Indian mannequins, one of the
mountmakers sculpted each entire mannequin out of ethafoam.

And all mannequins with heads raise the issue of hair and how to make
it, which can be a real problem.

In summary, I don't have a simple answer.  Does anybody else? - I'd be
very interested in some exchange on this topic.  I'd also be very
interested to hear what's been said on Museum_L.

Deborah Bede
Textile Conservator
Minnesota Historical Society   "







At 01:59 PM 9/11/02 -0400, you wrote:
>Does anybody know where I can get museum quality mannequins?  I know of
>Dorfman museum figures but are there others?
>
>Thank You
>
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