Female Articulated Wooden Artist Mannequin

A 20th -century wooden female articulated mannequin, finely carved and articulated throughout its full height. Crafted from walnut with a rich, warm patina, the figure shows signs of age and use consistent with its age. Its simplified but anatomically proportioned form is distinguished by the marked curvature of the torso and movable joints at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles, allowing for a wide variety of poses. The head and limbs are carefully turned, and the hands and feet are delicately modeled, characteristic of Victorian craftsmanship. These mannequins, called lay figures, were traditionally used by artists and sculptors as adjustable models for the study of human proportions, anatomy, and posture, before the widespread use of reference photography. This example, with its distinctly feminine form, illustrates both the aesthetics and functionality of 19th and 20th century workshop tools.