The Queen Has Arrived...

Oh dear, I saw her by accident while browsing dress forms on eBay to find a new one for my shop. Last year I had a newer one that I used to model bags and dresses that would not fit me, but in the process of moving twice...it was dismembered over a year ago and I have not seen all the parts since. Then to my good fortune...I came across this! It was unlike anything I've ever laid eyes on. I knew it was mine, made just for me, for Revival House...it had to be. I envisioned everything I could do with her, and how my new dream vintage boutique would be born. I set out at that moment to reinvent my shop not even knowing whether or not I would win the auction.

As the story goes, there were several people highly interested in her. The day I saw her on eBay, the auction closed with no bids because all of us had questions about how to reasonably afford freight shipping for a 75 lb claw foot base. It just so turned out that my address was the closest. Shipping arrangements were worked out, and it went back on eBay for one day for all of us to bid...and I expected all of us would bid like madness! BUT, to my luck, nobody showed up to bid other than myself. I couldn't believe it. I was willing to pay any amount to have her shipped. I will have her all my life, and I know nobody could appreciate her more.

She's paper-mache, and solid cast iron and painted many years ago a lovely white patina. Her proportions give a clue to when she might have been made, anywhere from mid 19th century to early turn of the century. This is my only guess because her proportions make it appear as though she was made to wear a corset. That is exactly what I thought when I first knew of her measurements. The hour glass figure stood out to me...the extremely narrow waist, but wider hips. Later on, I know the hips were more the concern, and girdles became more the fashion than corsets. Could that be a clue? I swear I go crazy about these things...

Leaving Tulsa...




Unpacking on my sun porch...





In my house...