Conservation around the Millennium (Hungarian National Museum, 2001)
Pages - 151
FROM MODEL MANNEQUINS TO DISPLAY DUMMIES FOR MUSEUM EXHIBITION Enikő Sipos Puppets, dummies in human shape are kown from ancient times, but real toy- dolls did not appear earlier than in the 15th century. From that time onwards puppet-making has developed in three directions: toy-dolls, model-dummies, fashion dolls. Regarding to their functions, the latter two come nearest to the display mannequins for museum exhibitions. In a wider sense, they may be named mannequins, which help to exhibit costumes and this expression covers all types of dummies imitating a half, or a whole human body. Elaborated articulated model-dummies had been used by painters and sculptures for models: these were made of clay coated with wax, or were carved out of wood. Their postures could be suitably adjusted and fixed. The earliest mention of model-dummies can be found in the work of Vasari, who compiled biographies of more than two hundred artists. In his work, that appeared in 1550, he describes that Fra Bartolomeo, the painter (1445-1517) employed after a life- size moveable dummy in order to be able, as far as possible and represent the gathers of robes true to life. (1) There are evidences, that a number of great artist such as Dürer or Grünewald also made use of such devices. The six pieces which survived from that period were carved of beech-wood and boxwood. They were rather small with a height of 180-240 mms and almost always produced in pairs. Inside there was a complicated mechanisms of catgut’s, by the aid of which even the smallest parts of their fingers or toes become adjustable. (2) Later the wood-carved mannequins-figurines have been substituted by others, coated with silk or leather, and the bodies of these pieces were filled with horsehair or cork granulate. A specimen of this type made in Paris in 1817, may be seen today in Kassel in the collection of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen. The earliest piece of fashion dolls known up to these days has survived 1. Wooden model puppets, Salzburg, 1525, unknown master 151
