Mannequin; GIRAUD, Paris, XIX century.

Mannequin; GIRAUD, Paris, XIX century.
Wood, fabric and bronze.
Features articulated shoulders, arms and fingers.
Signed on the torso.
Measurements: 150 cm.
Dressmaker's mannequin with base and top in gilded bronze. The piece has articulated arms, shoulders and fingers. In addition, the arms are probably detachable to allow to place the garments with greater precision. The main body is lined with fabric at the neck and has a marked center, indicating that it was conceived as a tailor's mannequin and not simply for exhibition. The signature of the sewing house to which it belonged can be seen on the main torso area.
The artist's mannequin appeared in commercial catalogs as early as the 18th century and remained in continuous production for more than a century. Its style, in fact, was the inspiration for the wooden body of the doll dismissed by Leon Casimir Bru in 1867.