Hi there, I know that in the past, although it was out of my budget, there is a place that sells foam mannequins that can be cut with a special tool. I don't know where this was exactly because I had the link on my old computer over three years ago but this is a place saved in my new favourites. While this may not be the recommended way to display old pieces, if you are really in a pinch and need something specific, I could recommend a home-made form as I have been using for my Victorian collection displays. NOT suitable of course for long term display but as I said, good for a pinch. The link to the site is: http://www.anatomic.net/ They may or may not do custom. If they do however, it will likely cost and depending on the scale of your exhibit and budget it may or may not be worth it. Note: This works for dresses only. Now, this will sound super cheesy but it does work if you have a somewhat creative, sculptural mind. Most of what you would need is from the home improvement center. Get a roll of chicken wire, the stuff with the hexagon openings in it. It comes in a couple widths, I buy the stuff that is 36" high since most torsos are not longer than that. As many wooden stair posts as you would need, some thin wood, nails, batting, and muslin.
Basically what you do, is make a stand with the post and some of the wood. On top of that you cut a piece out that is the shape and span of the hip line of your garment. The total length of the garment's torso down to the hipline gets made from the chicken wire so you will need to cut that to just a little longer than what you need and about 4 inches (more or less if wanted) wider than the hip measure or widest measure of the torso if it isn't the hip. The wire will be folded in and you reach into the wire and twist the cut ends to secure the tube closed. Wear heavy gloves and long sleeves for this because the wire is sharp! The tube of wire gets fixed to the piece of wood on the stand, the chicken wire stapled or tucked under the wood so as to make a smooth hip line at the bottom. *No cut edges of wire should be exposed when you are through, they should all be secured together and tucked under inside the tube so they will not snag on any material or poke through. It is easier to just fold any excess wire at the top inside at the neckline. This will make a stronger and safer opening than just cutting to length. Once you have your wire attached to the stand is when the creative part begins. You have to more or less bend and form the wire, sculpting it to the correct shape, proportions, measurements of the garment. You can test for fit and continue to readjust until the garment fits well. It should be the right fit but a little smaller to accommodate the following steps. ?Once the wire is sculpted into the correct torso form, take the batting and cover the wire as neatly and tightly as possible and just drape the form with unbleached washed cotton muslin. It should be washed without detergents so as to be safest against the fabrics. You literally just drape it to the form and hand stitch into place just to cover the batting. In areas where the garment fits loosely, take some pieces of torn or fluffed up batting or acid free tissue paper and gently stuff it until it fits well. This step I usually hold off on until I am setting up the display. Be reminded this is NOT ideal for long term display but will really get you by in a quick pinch and the best part is that they are completely custom sized for each garment! You can get little yard sale tags too and label each form and tie them to the inside neckline of each form for future use because, believe me, once they are naked they are difficult to tell apart. If you cannot locate what you are looking for and decide to give my home made display form technique a try, please let me know how it worked out for your or if you have any questions. Take care and good luck:) Regards, Justine Jackson. lady_of_bris...@yahoo.com www.DVLGS.org -----Original Message----- From: Aylwen Gardiner-Garden <aylwe...@gmail.com> To: Historical Costume <h-cost...@indra.com> Sent: Sat, May 29, 2010 12:40 am Subject: [h-cost] Preparing an exhibition of historical garments The posts on dummies are reminding me to write this request. I am putting on an exhibition next year of 200-year old garments that are too small for the standard sized dummy/mannequin - I probably need ones the size of a thin 12-year old girl. Can you recommend anywhere online where I can purchase nice-looking foam dummies/mannequins for display of extant garments? I really want people to see the gowns in 3D instead of lying flat in boxes. I have purchased dummies in the past from http://www.tinnafashion.com but the shoulders and chests are too broad. Bye for now, Aylwen Earthly Delights Historic Dance Academy http://www.earthlydelights.com.au Director, Jane Austen Festival Australia http://www.janeaustenfestival.com.au _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
