Antique French Siegel Taylors / Dressmakers Mannequin

Antique French Siegel Stockman Taylors / Dressmaker’s Mannequin

This is a very reluctant sale.

The tailor’s dummy / Mannequin is in pretty good condition with some wear on the right shoulder and a little around the neck.

The bust is linen covered – size 42 / 35 and is on a likely beechwood base / stand – painted original black

The Mannequin is stamped with the makers branding “Siegel Stockman – London – Paris”; with the underside of the base also stamped with Siegel & Stockmen 42 /35 Margaret Street London W1.

The Stockmans dressmakers form was created in 1867 by FrAcACric Stockman, a young sculptor and disciple of Lavigne who invented the tailors dummies made from paper mache. Stockman decided to open his own company, a very small one at first with the idea of providing dressmakers with forms in different standardized sizes. The company grew step by step and settled in the 17th arrondissement of Paris.

Since the beginning, the Stockmans dressmakers form has been handcrafted from paper mache. This I recycled paper is applied on a mould. After cutting off the mould, the bust is stapled back together and sanded. Then the bust is padded and covered in fabric. At the end the bust is imprinted with the Stockman logo and size & shape references.

In 1900 Stockman was selling almost 3000 busts a year. Around this time Stockman met Mr Siegel, whose specialty was mannequins and metal accessories hangers. So the company became Siegel & Stockman and settled in a big factory in Saint- Ouen, near Paris. The Siegel brand became really famous during the Art Deco decades – and in the 1920’s & 30’s Siegel provided the majority of the stores of Paris

We have owned the Mannequin for 20+ years, purchasing it from Cheery Orchard Antiques in Thorndon, (for $520.00) Wellington in 2003.

The only reason for selling is we have traded down to a smaller property.

Purchaser must collect or arrange collection from Strowan in Christchurch.