Vintage French Black-Painted Articulated Artist’s Mannequin - 13"

This vintage French poseable artist’s mannequin is made from wood with a worn black-painted finish. Its articulated shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankles allow the figure to be arranged in a wide variety of poses. Areas of rubbing reveal the warmer wood beneath, giving the surface a naturally aged, studio-worn character. The joints remain movable, although a few are slightly stiff with age, without affecting its overall function or appeal.

Figures like this were traditionally used by artists to study proportion, posture and movement. The fully articulated construction gives the piece a playful quality: it can be rearranged into a multitude of poses, almost inviting interaction, while the simple construction and dark finish give it an appealingly graphic character. Its compact scale makes it ideal for a desk, bookshelf or cabinet of curiosities, styled alongside art books, drawings or other studio objects. The pose can be adjusted from time to time, giving the piece a lively, ever-changing sculptural presence.