Spring 2012 - Dress and Textile Specialists

Photo 1: Bowes 1
Photo 2: Bowes 2
Looking back through the mannequins used for previous displays new torsos were designed which
incorporated the most appropriate characteristics from these forms. Budget and time constraints on
manufacture meant that it was only possible to create 2 completely new forms, Bowes 1 and Bowes
2, (see photos 1 and 2).
The contemporary Italian male, female and child acrylic mannequins were also used in the gallery.
Whether a modern Italian torso or Bowes 1 or 2 all forms needed individual adaptations. In order to
see through the acrylic to the inside of the costume padding was only applied to areas of the torsos
invisible to the visitor, photos 3 and 4. This was a complicated process as the safety of the costume
was paramount but for the visitor to fully experience each costume it’s historical context was also
extremely important.
The method proved very effective and enabled printed linings inside jackets, designer labels, and
inner structures of costumes to be seen inside a museum display for the first time. Some torsos
were suspended on rods from bars on top of the cases, and others with larger skirts were displayed
on poles and bases. This gave the effect of the costume ‘floating’ in its own space inside the cases,
with no immediately visible supports, (see photos 5 and 6).
Perspex has long been used for museum mounts but all the acrylics from which the torsos were
made were ‘Oddy’ tested to make sure that they were inert and would not degrade and give off
chemicals detrimental to the textiles. All passed conservation tests for long-term display.
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