It's made of metal, I believe the very heavy stand is painted iron. A brown cloth covers the mannequin portion and the size can be changed by loosening and tightening the wing nuts inside the form. A painted label on the metal neck announces that it's a Hall Borchert Dressform Company made in Hoboken, New Jersey. The form is an Empress 1. There is a paper label with dates beginning in August 1903 and ending in 1915. Seems to fit. The style of the dress form looks very Gibson Girl.
As a sewer, I was very attracted to the dressmakers form. I learned to sew at age 4. Yes, no kidding, I really did. I used to carry a needle and thread and fabric scraps around in a fabric covered cigar box to sew clothes for my Barbie doll. I sewed my first Maxi Dress in 1968 while in the 4th grade. I sewed all my own clothes until it became cheaper to buy them myself sometime in the late 1980's.
But my sewing background popped up in 2005 when I used my wire and glass beadmaking skills to make these miniature dressmaker's forms....
My history had found a way into my beadmaking. I'd like to do more of these just for me - maybe try to personalize the dresses a bit more. I can vividly remember that first Maxi dress. Hmmmmm.....
Has something in your history found it's way into your work?
10 comments:
Cindy, those are AWESOME! and I'm envious of your dressmaker's form - I had a wicker one and it went the way of things when I sold the Texas house, but I miss it, her name was "Matilda" - will you be naming yours?
Hi Lynn!
Oh too bad you had to let Matilda go, I'm sure she was very proud and happy to be with you.
I believe she has a name, "The Empress" which I think suits her well. I've been a loyal subject and made sure she has her own space in my humble abode ;-)
She says to tell you thank you for you admiration of her! ;-)
Cindy
love that dress form! i found a miniature at pier one - and while it isn't vintage, it gives me that feeling... degas' le petit danseuse has infiltrated my work! little did i know that when i 'met' her in philadelphia 25 years ago she would make such an impression upon me...
Hi Cindy,
I love your vintage Empress dressform! And your dress form beads (would love to have one of those!!) I have a dressform too, but she has been religated to the garage -- not the best place for her. I started to sew at 5 when my mom taught me to embroider little lazy daisies and the chain stitch. Later I learned to use her ancient Singer sewing machine (at age 6).
Emanda
Poor Barbie, she get's a bad rap but I also learned to sew, knit and crochet using Barbie as my model. My mum also had a dressmakers model but I'm afraid it just became a static clothes horse for all sorts of odd things. Hats, scarves, school uniforms and anything that was in thequeue for mending.
Those are so unique...how gorgeous...Thanks for stopping by..Im glad I cam over..!
My goodness! That is an amazing dress form. I used to have a vintage mannequin that I wish I still had.
Great beads and I love the forms that they sit on.
OMG! I love them! What a dichotomy!
Wait. You got that amazing thing for $20? I'm burning with jealousy! Really unique beads, wow,
hmmmmmmmm, not yet, but it's a beautiful thought.
I think sometimes we get too caught up staying in touch with current trends.
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