Doe and Hope

Description

The superb quality well carved mahogany tripod stand with baluster turned base and carved floral and leaf mouldings the whole with brass fitments with the pine child or half sized torso having black fabric over hessian cork on adjustable collar, with the underside stamped ‘Harris & Sheldon Ltd’, the whole terminating in a turned knop finial, survives from the late nineteenth century.

The mannequin is threadbare to the material of the bodice in places giving it a decorative look, and elsewhere it is in good condition with the high quality mahogany of a good rich colour and the adjustable brass fitments and collar all present and in operational order. There are no losses, damages or any restoration to note.

Harris & Sheldon of of 70 Wood Street, London, E.C.2, and Stafford Street, Birmingham were shop fitters and were established in Birmingham for around one hundred and thirty years from circa 1870. It did not just provide a local service but extended over the country and this mannequin would have been made to order for one of the top window displays of its day.

One would be hard pressed to find a dress-makers dummy with more quality or decorative appeal.