How Packwood House's mysterious mannequin revealed her secrets
Until recently, Packwood House, a National Trust property in Warwickshire, was probably best known for its glorious formal gardens. But now it has yielded up an intriguing secret.
A life-sized mannequin hidden away in a sedan chair has been discovered to be extraordinarily detailed and lifelike. She dates from the late nineteenth century, when it seems no artist's studio was complete without such a life-sized jointed figure, called a lay figure, to share the work of posing with real live models.
Judi Herman has been finding out more about these 'must-have' studio accessories.
