#dummy board

[history-of-fashion]

ab. 1702-1714 Figure of Lady in Queen Anne Dress (dummy board)

(Knole House, Kent)

[fashionsfromhistory]

Street Peddler Dummy Board

c.1820

United Kingdom

Dummy boards are life-size, flat, wooden figures painted and shaped in outline to resemble figures of servants, soldiers, children, and animals. The taste for using illusionistic painted figures as a form of house decoration probably originated in the trompe l’oeil, or life-like interior scenes painted by Dutch artists in the early 17th century. Dummy boards continued to be produced into the 19 th century. They were placed in corners and on stairways to surprise visitors, or in front of empty fireplaces in the summer. Most were made by professional sign-painters, who also produced the hanging street signs prevalent until the late 18th century. This figure of a street pedlar may have been made as an advertisement for a jeweller's or curio shop, or possibly as an ornament for a pleasure garden. He is selling jewellery from an open case which is hung around his neck on a strap.

Victoria & Albert

[fashionsfromhistory]

Boy & Girl Dummy Board

c.1690

British or Dutch

Dummy boards are life-size, flat, wooden figures painted and shaped in outline to resemble figures of servants, soldiers, children, and animals. The taste for using illusionistic painted figures as a form of house decoration probably originated in the trompe l’oeil, or life-like interior scenes painted by Dutch artists in the early 17th century. Dummy boards continued to be produced into the 19th century. They were placed in corners and on stairways to surprise visitors, or in front of empty fireplaces in the summer. Most were made by professional sign-painters, who also produced the hanging street signs prevalent until the late 18th century. (Victoria and Albert)

The MET

[fashionsfromhistory]

Man with a Cane Dummy Board

1690-1700

England

Dummy boards are life-size, flat, wooden figures painted and shaped in outline to resemble figures of servants, soldiers, children, and animals. The taste for using illusionistic painted figures as a form of house decoration probably originated in the trompe l’oeil, or life-like interior scenes painted by Dutch artists in the early 17th century. Dummy boards continued to be produced into the 19th century. They were placed in corners and on stairways to surprise visitors, or in front of empty fireplaces in the summer. Most were made by professional sign-painters, who also produced the hanging street signs prevalent until the late 18th century. This example depicting a man with a cane is of particularly high quality and is painted on canvas attached to the board to prevent shrinkage. (Victoria & Albert)

Victoria & Albert

[fashionsfromhistory]

Musician Dummy Boards

c.1780

United Kingdom

Dummy boards are life-size, flat, wooden figures painted and shaped in outline to resemble figures of servants, soldiers, children, and animals. The taste for using illusionistic painted figures as a form of house decoration probably originated in the trompe l’oeil, or life-like interior scenes painted by Dutch artists in the early 17th century. Dummy boards continued to be produced into the 19th century. They were placed in corners and on stairways to surprise visitors, or in front of empty fireplaces in the summer. Most were made by professional sign-painters, who also produced the hanging street signs prevalent until the late 18th century. These boards were probably made for a tea garden or inn. (Victoria & Albert)

Victoria & Albert

[fashionsfromhistory]

Girl & Boy Dummy Boards

Early 18th Century

English

Dummy boards are life-size, flat, wooden figures painted and shaped in outline to resemble figures of servants, soldiers, children, and animals. The taste for using illusionistic painted figures as a form of house decoration probably originated in the trompe l’oeil, or life-like interior scenes painted by Dutch artists in the early 17th century. Dummy boards continued to be produced into the 19th century. They were placed in corners and on stairways to surprise visitors, or in front of empty fireplaces in the summer. Most were made by professional sign-painters, who also produced the hanging street signs prevalent until the late 18th century. (Victoria and Albert)

MFA Boston

[history-of-fashion]

ab. 1700 Woman with a Tall Head-Dress (dummy board)

(Victoria and Albert Museum)

[history-of-fashion]

ab. 1695 A Girl and a boy in period dresses (dummy boards)

(Lamport Hall)