Open Forum

Hi everyone!

I have a current exhibit made up of several large, paper garments that sit on mannequins. Over the past few weeks/months, two of them have collapsed due to their top-heavy nature, and thankfully none of the garments were damaged, but I now feel like I should begin to replace all of them with something sturdier than what we have. Everything I have found basically has just one connection at the foot to a glass plate (or something similar) and that's where the current mannequins keep breaking. Does anyone know of a source for full-body mannequins with a more sturdy support system or just made of heavier materials so they don't topple over? Any and all help is appreciated as always! Thank you!

------------------------------
Max Lenik
Events & Exhibitions Technical Coordinator
Embassy of Sweden, Washington DC
------------------------------

I have had luck with Manex, https://www.manex-usa.com/
The torsos covered in jersey fabric have worked for my purposes and the rod is attached to a sturdy base (either metal or wood). It is best to call them, they should be able to help once you describe your needs.

------------------------------
Laura Willoughby
Historic Site Coordinator
City of Newport News
Newport News VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-29-2020 11:53 AM
From: Max Lenik
Subject: Sturdy Mannequins

Hi everyone!

I have a current exhibit made up of several large, paper garments that sit on mannequins. Over the past few weeks/months, two of them have collapsed due to their top-heavy nature, and thankfully none of the garments were damaged, but I now feel like I should begin to replace all of them with something sturdier than what we have. Everything I have found basically has just one connection at the foot to a glass plate (or something similar) and that's where the current mannequins keep breaking. Does anyone know of a source for full-body mannequins with a more sturdy support system or just made of heavier materials so they don't topple over? Any and all help is appreciated as always! Thank you!

------------------------------
Max Lenik
Events & Exhibitions Technical Coordinator
Embassy of Sweden, Washington DC
------------------------------

Hi Max,

I am taking advantage of the closure to rebuild mannequins at our museum at this time. I am using a 1 inch wood base with 1/2 inch all-thread at a 60 inch length screwed into it. Then I am attaching the mannequins to that structure with metal straps and duck tape. I do not have conservation issues to worry about with mine, but they do have to be robust since they are open to the public touching them. Depending on what you have, you might want to be wrapping any structure you build with Soft Tyvek or Dartek to create a barrier. It sounds like you need a simple wood structure mannequin. There is Dorfman Museum Figures which I think might still have an office in Baltimore. I am familiar with your galleries having done an install there in the past if I can help any further. 

Thanks and good luck,




------------------------------
James Koerner
Museum Specialist
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Washington DC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-29-2020 11:53 AM
From: Max Lenik
Subject: Sturdy Mannequins

Hi everyone!

I have a current exhibit made up of several large, paper garments that sit on mannequins. Over the past few weeks/months, two of them have collapsed due to their top-heavy nature, and thankfully none of the garments were damaged, but I now feel like I should begin to replace all of them with something sturdier than what we have. Everything I have found basically has just one connection at the foot to a glass plate (or something similar) and that's where the current mannequins keep breaking. Does anyone know of a source for full-body mannequins with a more sturdy support system or just made of heavier materials so they don't topple over? Any and all help is appreciated as always! Thank you!

------------------------------
Max Lenik
Events & Exhibitions Technical Coordinator
Embassy of Sweden, Washington DC
------------------------------

Hi Max,

I'm a mountmaker and installer and I understand what you are saying about weak connections and top heavy forms. I have had to build a few forms to accommodate very special costumes that a mannequin form just would not support. I'd be happy to discuss with you any technical issues or assistance you need. 



------------------------------
Suzanne McGarraugh
Exhibit Design Specialist
Mountmaking & Installation
San Antonio, TX
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-29-2020 11:53 AM
From: Max Lenik
Subject: Sturdy Mannequins

Hi everyone!

I have a current exhibit made up of several large, paper garments that sit on mannequins. Over the past few weeks/months, two of them have collapsed due to their top-heavy nature, and thankfully none of the garments were damaged, but I now feel like I should begin to replace all of them with something sturdier than what we have. Everything I have found basically has just one connection at the foot to a glass plate (or something similar) and that's where the current mannequins keep breaking. Does anyone know of a source for full-body mannequins with a more sturdy support system or just made of heavier materials so they don't topple over? Any and all help is appreciated as always! Thank you!

------------------------------
Max Lenik
Events & Exhibitions Technical Coordinator
Embassy of Sweden, Washington DC
------------------------------

Hi Max,

Are you using full-body fiberglass display mannequins (the type you see in department stores and in many museum displays of costume)?  They're quite heavy and are generally stable if, instead of using the glass base most come with, you screw the rod down directly through the platform the mannequin stands on through the flange at the bottom. The disadvantage of these mannequins is that they're pretty expensive new.  Brands to check out would be Rootstein, Goldsmith, Bonaveri, and Schlappi.  Manex might also work for you, as Laura suggested.  If you need a dress form rather than a mannequin, then you could look to the kinds of forms used by fashion designers, which are heavy, long-lasting, extremely stable and come in several styles.  Wolf is the brand many designers use.

I've worked with Dorfman's historic adjustable foam/batting figures (I'm a costume specialist) and have never found them particularly satisfactory.  They're hard to adjust and fairly lightweight.  I can't speak for any of Dorfman's other offerings.

Finally, I can recommend an excellent textile conservator in Washington who I'm sure could help you with mannequin choice and with mounting if you needed. She could also make invisible mounts for you if that's what you decided you wanted instead of a mannequin.  Julia Brennan, Caring for Textiles, julia@caringfortextiles.com

------------------------------
Melissa Leventon
Principal
[Curatrix Group]
San Francisco CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-29-2020 11:53 AM
From: Max Lenik
Subject: Sturdy Mannequins

Hi everyone!

I have a current exhibit made up of several large, paper garments that sit on mannequins. Over the past few weeks/months, two of them have collapsed due to their top-heavy nature, and thankfully none of the garments were damaged, but I now feel like I should begin to replace all of them with something sturdier than what we have. Everything I have found basically has just one connection at the foot to a glass plate (or something similar) and that's where the current mannequins keep breaking. Does anyone know of a source for full-body mannequins with a more sturdy support system or just made of heavier materials so they don't topple over? Any and all help is appreciated as always! Thank you!

------------------------------
Max Lenik
Events & Exhibitions Technical Coordinator
Embassy of Sweden, Washington DC
------------------------------

Thank you so much for these suggestions! The ones we currently have are plastic from Displays2go.com as we were very much constricted by budget (something I'm sure we're all familiar with). I'll look into the companies you listed though. Thanks again!

------------------------------
Max Lenik
Events & Exhibitions Technical Coordinator
Washington DC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-01-2020 11:29 AM
From: Melissa Leventon
Subject: Sturdy Mannequins

Hi Max,

Are you using full-body fiberglass display mannequins (the type you see in department stores and in many museum displays of costume)?  They're quite heavy and are generally stable if, instead of using the glass base most come with, you screw the rod down directly through the platform the mannequin stands on through the flange at the bottom. The disadvantage of these mannequins is that they're pretty expensive new.  Brands to check out would be Rootstein, Goldsmith, Bonaveri, and Schlappi.  Manex might also work for you, as Laura suggested.  If you need a dress form rather than a mannequin, then you could look to the kinds of forms used by fashion designers, which are heavy, long-lasting, extremely stable and come in several styles.  Wolf is the brand many designers use.

I've worked with Dorfman's historic adjustable foam/batting figures (I'm a costume specialist) and have never found them particularly satisfactory.  They're hard to adjust and fairly lightweight.  I can't speak for any of Dorfman's other offerings.

Finally, I can recommend an excellent textile conservator in Washington who I'm sure could help you with mannequin choice and with mounting if you needed. She could also make invisible mounts for you if that's what you decided you wanted instead of a mannequin.  Julia Brennan, Caring for Textiles, julia@caringfortextiles.com

------------------------------
Melissa Leventon
Principal
[Curatrix Group]
San Francisco CA

Original Message:
Sent: 05-29-2020 11:53 AM
From: Max Lenik
Subject: Sturdy Mannequins

Hi everyone!

I have a current exhibit made up of several large, paper garments that sit on mannequins. Over the past few weeks/months, two of them have collapsed due to their top-heavy nature, and thankfully none of the garments were damaged, but I now feel like I should begin to replace all of them with something sturdier than what we have. Everything I have found basically has just one connection at the foot to a glass plate (or something similar) and that's where the current mannequins keep breaking. Does anyone know of a source for full-body mannequins with a more sturdy support system or just made of heavier materials so they don't topple over? Any and all help is appreciated as always! Thank you!

------------------------------
Max Lenik
Events & Exhibitions Technical Coordinator
Embassy of Sweden, Washington DC
------------------------------

I had a feeling you were operating under budget constraints, as do we
all most of the time.?? Here's another suggestion:?? buy some mannequins
used.?? I only know of one source right now, a place called Mannequin
Madness (https://www.mannequinmadness.com/). They're in my area, but
there may be others--or shipping out from the West Coast might end up
not being prohibitively expensive.

Hope that helps.
--
Melissa Leventon
Principal
Curatrix Group
San Francisco, CA


Original Message:
Sent: 6/1/2020 1:21:00 PM
From: Max Lenik
Subject: RE: Sturdy Mannequins

Thank you so much for these suggestions! The ones we currently have are plastic from Displays2go.com as we were very much constricted by budget (something I'm sure we're all familiar with). I'll look into the companies you listed though. Thanks again!

------------------------------
Max Lenik
Events & Exhibitions Technical Coordinator
Washington DC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-01-2020 11:29 AM
From: Melissa Leventon
Subject: Sturdy Mannequins

Hi Max,

Are you using full-body fiberglass display mannequins (the type you see in department stores and in many museum displays of costume)?  They're quite heavy and are generally stable if, instead of using the glass base most come with, you screw the rod down directly through the platform the mannequin stands on through the flange at the bottom. The disadvantage of these mannequins is that they're pretty expensive new.  Brands to check out would be Rootstein, Goldsmith, Bonaveri, and Schlappi.  Manex might also work for you, as Laura suggested.  If you need a dress form rather than a mannequin, then you could look to the kinds of forms used by fashion designers, which are heavy, long-lasting, extremely stable and come in several styles.  Wolf is the brand many designers use.

I've worked with Dorfman's historic adjustable foam/batting figures (I'm a costume specialist) and have never found them particularly satisfactory.  They're hard to adjust and fairly lightweight.  I can't speak for any of Dorfman's other offerings.

Finally, I can recommend an excellent textile conservator in Washington who I'm sure could help you with mannequin choice and with mounting if you needed. She could also make invisible mounts for you if that's what you decided you wanted instead of a mannequin.  Julia Brennan, Caring for Textiles, julia@caringfortextiles.com

------------------------------
Melissa Leventon
Principal
[Curatrix Group]
San Francisco CA

Original Message:
Sent: 05-29-2020 11:53 AM
From: Max Lenik
Subject: Sturdy Mannequins

Hi everyone!

I have a current exhibit made up of several large, paper garments that sit on mannequins. Over the past few weeks/months, two of them have collapsed due to their top-heavy nature, and thankfully none of the garments were damaged, but I now feel like I should begin to replace all of them with something sturdier than what we have. Everything I have found basically has just one connection at the foot to a glass plate (or something similar) and that's where the current mannequins keep breaking. Does anyone know of a source for full-body mannequins with a more sturdy support system or just made of heavier materials so they don't topple over? Any and all help is appreciated as always! Thank you!

------------------------------
Max Lenik
Events & Exhibitions Technical Coordinator
Embassy of Sweden, Washington DC
------------------------------

Hi Max,
Looking at the exhibit, and I think I am seeing more of what your problem is. There is an artist Lania Dagostino  https://www.laniadagostino.com who has done mannequin work for the Smithsonian in the past. She could probably build custom mannequins or reinforcement sections that keep the mannequins consistent with the others you already have in place.

------------------------------
James Koerner
Museum Specialist
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Washington DC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-29-2020 11:53 AM
From: Max Lenik
Subject: Sturdy Mannequins

Hi everyone!

I have a current exhibit made up of several large, paper garments that sit on mannequins. Over the past few weeks/months, two of them have collapsed due to their top-heavy nature, and thankfully none of the garments were damaged, but I now feel like I should begin to replace all of them with something sturdier than what we have. Everything I have found basically has just one connection at the foot to a glass plate (or something similar) and that's where the current mannequins keep breaking. Does anyone know of a source for full-body mannequins with a more sturdy support system or just made of heavier materials so they don't topple over? Any and all help is appreciated as always! Thank you!

------------------------------
Max Lenik
Events & Exhibitions Technical Coordinator
Embassy of Sweden, Washington DC
------------------------------

Thank you! I'll check her out.

------------------------------
Max Lenik
Events & Exhibitions Technical Coordinator
Washington DC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-01-2020 11:51 AM
From: James Koerner
Subject: Sturdy Mannequins

Hi Max,
Looking at the exhibit, and I think I am seeing more of what your problem is. There is an artist Lania Dagostino  https://www.laniadagostino.com who has done mannequin work for the Smithsonian in the past. She could probably build custom mannequins or reinforcement sections that keep the mannequins consistent with the others you already have in place.

------------------------------
James Koerner
Museum Specialist
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Washington DC

Original Message:
Sent: 05-29-2020 11:53 AM
From: Max Lenik
Subject: Sturdy Mannequins

Hi everyone!

I have a current exhibit made up of several large, paper garments that sit on mannequins. Over the past few weeks/months, two of them have collapsed due to their top-heavy nature, and thankfully none of the garments were damaged, but I now feel like I should begin to replace all of them with something sturdier than what we have. Everything I have found basically has just one connection at the foot to a glass plate (or something similar) and that's where the current mannequins keep breaking. Does anyone know of a source for full-body mannequins with a more sturdy support system or just made of heavier materials so they don't topple over? Any and all help is appreciated as always! Thank you!

------------------------------
Max Lenik
Events & Exhibitions Technical Coordinator
Embassy of Sweden, Washington DC
------------------------------