Pierre Imans Wax Bust in Original Shipping Crate – circa 1900s

This exquisite life-size wax bust, dating from the early 1900s, is a rare surviving example from the renowned Parisian mannequin maker Pierre Imans. Known for his artistry and attention to lifelike detail, Imans supplied high-end fashion houses, department stores, and couture salons with mannequins and busts that captured the elegance of the Belle Époque and early Art Deco periods.

The bust features delicate wax craftsmanship with realistic glass eyes, finely applied eyelashes, subtly painted facial tones, and period-accurate hair styling adorned with a gold-toned headband and fabric flowers. Every detail reflects Imans’ signature style, where mannequins were not merely display tools but artistic representations of idealized beauty.

What makes this piece exceptionally rare is its original wooden shipping crate, lined in quilted silk padding and marked FRAGILE. The crate is purpose-built to cradle and protect the fragile wax head during transport—a fascinating insight into how such vulnerable creations were shipped across Europe and overseas over a century ago.

Pierre Imans operated from Paris from the late 19th century through the 1930s, and his works are now highly sought after by collectors, museums, and fashion historians. Very few examples remain in such well-preserved condition, especially with their original transportation cases intact.

This bust stands as both an objet d’art and a time capsule, preserving the elegance of Parisian display art from over 100 years ago.

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