Dutch born Pierre Imans was a student of the sculptor Ludovic Durand. He founded his wax mannequin workshop in Paris in 1896. Thanks to technical refinements and collaborations with skilled sculptors, Imans became a reference for Parisian grace. His creations won numerous awards in international exhibitions and were exported worldwide.
Imans excelled at imparting the illusion of life to his wax figures, surpassing the stiffness of contemporary flesh models. The mannequins were featured in illustrated catalogs, each model identified by a first name. Customers could customize the mannequins by choosing the pose, neckline, and even opting for automated versions. Imans’ female models were among the first to adopt dynamic poses, with hips animated in a swaying motion.
Specific variants were created for clients such as corset makers, hairdressers, milliners, and jewelers. Some models were designed in automated versions with sophisticated mechanisms, showcased at the 1900 Universal Exposition. Prices for automated busts ranged from 240 to 950 francs, a considerable sum at the time.
Imans became the benchmark for high-end quality, and many manufacturers attempted to imitate him at lower costs. Some counterfeiters, like Talbrich, were convicted for copying Imans’ models. Despite competition, Imans maintained his reputation and even offered the staging of complete exhibitions, supplying mannequins to museums and fulfilling special orders.
The concept of the shop window evolved with Imans, transitioning from genre scenes to more modern presentations. Before the Great War, department stores arranged mannequins in elaborate settings, but the management of storefronts changed with men leaving for the front and the economic constraints of the war.
Today, the Pierre Imans legacy continues to inspire. His vision and craft set the standards for realism and elegance in mannequins, leaving an undeniable mark on the world of fashion display that endures beyond the passage of time.
Pierre Imans HQ
2 Villa du bel air
75012 Paris
France