Antique English Adjustable Male Tailor’s Mannequin - 52¼"

Life-sized yet proportionally smaller than today's standards, this English adjustable tailor’s mannequin from the late 19th century presents a male torso in warm buff papier-mâché over cardboard. Stamped Birmingham on the adjustment key, it rests on a brass standard with a turned hardwood circular base and is topped by a silvered metal ball finial. The shoulders are fitted with dark wooden arm plates, while the lower edge shows tack marks from repeated pinning, clear evidence of its workshop use. Timeworn and authentic, the form shows scattered abrasions, small losses and creases to the papier-mâché surface, minor staining, oxidation to the brass, and wear to the base adding to the antique charm of the piece. Dress forms of this type were indispensable tools in 19th-century tailoring shops, used for draping, fitting, and display.

The relatively narrow waist mirrors the fashionable male silhouette of the period, while its lightweight papier-mâché body made it both durable and easy to pin. Adjustable standards and rotating wooden bases, as seen here, were practical features developed by English and French makers to allow garments to be worked on at varying heights and angles with efficiency. As a decorative object, it lends sculptural presence and authentic studio character to a dressing room, bedroom, or creative workspace. It can be displayed on a console or worktable beneath a mirror, where its form adds depth and interest. In a retail setting, it contributes quiet narrative and texture, enriching the ensemble with a sense of history and craft.

Condition and patina consistent with age.
Approx. overall 52¼" high x 17" wide x 10¼" deep
Approx. overall 133cm high x 43cm wide x 26cm deep