I HAD to buy it (Craigs List)

14 years ago

but I'm not sure where I'll put her. :) The ad said "Original J.R. Bauman Model 18 normal, female manikin, with wire cage bottom on rollers. Made in 1942 at the designer factory, located at 13w 26th st, New York, New York. In good condition."

I had to drive to a little town near here (30-40 miles) to see her but it was love at first sight. And then the seller's story made me love her even more. She belonged to his wife that passed away a little over a year ago and it had belonged to her grandmother. His wife and her grandmother sewed together a lot. He didn't really want to part with her but he's selling his house to do some traveling. With tears in both of our eyes he gently loaded her in my car and now she's in her new home. After I got home I emailed him to see if she had a name and he gave me his wife and grandmother's name so I could choose one of them.

We are remodeling bathrooms, closets, repairing sheet rock and painting the house so please excuse the mess.

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Comments (28)

graywings123
14 years ago
Very cool!
Kathleen McGuire
14 years ago
Now I have tears in my eyes reading that! She can have a first and middle name! Sweet story!
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I'm going to agree with Palimp with this one. It isn't quite right for an older piece but really no one can honestly tell without different pictures :) A picture of the back from the inside and the outside, and a picture of the bottom might help. The underside of the shelfs would also perhaps help. To me, the carving isn't fine enough for a piece of this style from the art noveau period...it's nice, but not quite nice enough for a piece that would be planned with this type of detail. The detail isn't right for an old french or german piece either. Almost not heavy enough :) A close up of the lock might help, but not just the outside (which is easily reproduced) but the workings on the door frame as well as the back inside the cabinet. One big clue to me is the mitered corners where you see carved details. Where you see the separation. It's not really "normal" for a piece with any significant age on it. (You'd see separations but not at miters and likely you wouldn't even see miters there if it was carved with any attention to detail). You see joins done differently so that the carving won't split with climate changes. That typically happens when wood is used that's not dried properly (given the even splitting around the piece) or if it's made in one extreme climate and shipped to another (ie an aisan piece shipped to a dry climate). There's a reason you don't see the Keno brothers give values on pieces until they've twisted them up and down and turned them inside out :) The details that give the best clues are hidden in the construction more often than not, both on decorative items, and furnishings :) It is however a lovely piece! I would have to see a lot of convincing evidence to want to put it in a collection of specific period pieces...but to use it and enjoy it :) I think you did well for your money. (Another clue...if it were a highly craved piece from the art noveau period...i'd think the cost would be significantly MORE!)
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maddielee
14 years ago
I love her! What a great find and neat that she found such a nice new home.
zipdee
14 years ago
'She' is fantastic, Sundownr! What a great story to go along with her.
momto4boys
14 years ago
wonderful!
tinam61
14 years ago
I love it! I have been wanting one of these. I'd like to put one in one of our bedrooms. A blog I follow, the gal used one in her dining room, complete with antique petticoat, a sash made using an old millinary flower and necklaces.

I'm jealous!

tina
haley_comet
14 years ago
Love it! SO what is the name? May I ask how much something like this sells for?
What a unique conversation piece with a lovely story behind it.

Haley
barb5
14 years ago
And she even has wheels!

My mom sewed many of the clothes for herself and her 4 kids. She never had a manikin tho. I sewed many of my clothes when I was in graduate school and needed to look good for internships. I just didn't have the money to go out and buy nice clothes. But I haven't sewed in ages.

Your manikin is a testament to skills that I fear are being lost. I can see why you fell in love with her. Congratulations on a great CL buy!
lesmis
14 years ago
Oh how wonderful, and the story makes her all the more special!

Kat :)
cooperbailey
14 years ago
How cool is that??? And I have met the nicest people on CL!
sundownr
Original Author
14 years ago
Haley, you'll love the names. His wife was Sherry and her grandmother was called Dear.

I learned to sew from my mom and over the years have sewn many clothes. Quilts don't need to fit near as well as clothes do so I don't sew clothes anymore. Dear Sherry or Sherry Dear will only be admired.:)

Haley, I tried but didn't find anything for price comparison so I just worked of off his price. He listed it for $200 and before I drove over there I asked if he would take $150 which he did. I just googled and there's one on ebay now that has 18 bids and it's at $255. Mine doesn't have any stains like the one on ebay.

Barb, my mom sewed for herself and her 4 kids too! She even made my dad a couple of jackets. They were way more work than I would be willing to do but she did a very profession job. She passed away young (64) but her last years were spent very happily making quilts.
sombreuil_mongrel
14 years ago
My mom was quite the seamstress; she had a custom mannequin (I think they're called dress forms) made to her own measurements. I inherited it and it's still in the attic. Creepy, much? (I don't go up and have conversations with it, in case you were wondering.)
Casey
nicole__
14 years ago
Very interesting purchase! It's a conversation piece!!! :0) How fun! Enjoy!
rjinga
14 years ago
Casey, what time should I be there to revive her for you? I know she would not mind living in my house :) I would love to have one just like the one sundownr found. Great story, great find. I love the idea of her being a permanent fixture like a sweet waitress, always there at your becon call, "Oh Sherry Dear, we are ready for our tea" "Sherry Dear, will you please clear the table we are finished now"
Valerie Noronha
14 years ago
What a lovely story and conversation piece. Do you plan to use her or just put her on display? I love the idea of displaying Sherry Dear with some vintage clothing!
User
14 years ago
If anyone's in the Syracuse, NY area, their CL had a listing for a dress form today, $100, in Homer, NY (south of Syracuse).

sandyponder

Here is a link that might be useful: Syracuse, NY CL ad
allison0704
14 years ago
Great buy! DD1 would love it.

I saw this on a blog not long ago and bookmarked. How to make a new form look old:

Here is a link that might be useful: Heather Bullard - Dress form
dilly_dally
14 years ago
Great find sundownr!

Allison, I never thought of taking a new one and making it look old. That is so easy to do. Thanks for sharing the link for inspiration. I have a new one in the attic.
tinam61
14 years ago
Allison, I had never seen the one on Heather's blog. I must not have been reading her at that time. I notice she says she plans to use it for pics on the website, but I don't recall seeing those either. I don't visit her shop often though. That is neat to age one. I have seen some decoupaged in old book pages, sheet music, etc. also. Dilly - get that new one down! And to the other poster who has one in the attic - get her outta there! Such a treasure. They don't make the new ones like the old ones. I love that cage bottom.

For a pic of the one I described - here's the addy. You'll have to search through. If I'm not mistaken you can see it in her Christmas pictures, in the dining room.

tina

Here is a link that might be useful: pink roses blog mannequin
nhb22
14 years ago
I love her! What does your husband think?

How does Sherry Dear like her new home?
justgotabme
14 years ago
I love her! What a great find and wonderful story.
Shades_of_idaho
14 years ago
Wonderful find. I have one I did mosaic on. Still considering to make her into a lamp. Would love to stand her on the bathroom counter as a HUGE night light. There is a hole in the bottom of her leg and I could thread a rope light up into it. And good gosh you could see here there from the street. Now that might set tongues to wagging. Hehehehe

I am so glad you bought here. Precious story.

Chris

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1542707}}
malhgold
14 years ago
Fabulous!
kellykath
14 years ago
What a find! I would of bought her too! That is the kind of thing I would leave in the back of my car until my husband was at work . . . otherwise he would give me the "look" that I was absolutely out of my gourd! I would love her though and want to dress her up according to holiday's, and I would also want to move her around the house too! Oh, I wish I had one of those. Great find!!!!!
sundownr
Original Author
14 years ago
Haha - my husband just shakes his head when I do stuff like this :) This time I actually told him where I was going before I bought it instead of after.

I did have a sewing room until a few weeks ago that I gave up to become a master bathroom (being transformed as we speak) so my sewing room will now be in the dungeon. I mean basement. Sherry Dear is way too precious to go to the basement so I'm sure she will end up in my (our) bedroom (which is being redecorated).
cooperbailey
14 years ago
I think I like her best naked. and yah I know that sounds weird. I love the stenciled numbers and her wired skirt bottom- that is my favorite part I think ( if one can have a favorite part)
lulaja1
14 years ago
She is gorgeous! You should email the link to this forum to the husband of the beloved departed to show him that Sherry Dear is not only well taken care of but also famous! We love her! She is absolutely fab!
happyintexas
14 years ago
Oh, she is precious. I love her story.

All of y'all's comments reminded me of a terrific little movie each one of you should rent. "Lars and The Real Girl" Don't let the blurb dissuade you. This is a touching, sweet, funny, and charming movie. You'll understand why I thought of it while reading this thread when you see it.

Congrats on your find. She's a treasure.

I HAD to buy it (Craigs List)

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I HAD to buy it (Craigs List)

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