![Atop Empire State- in construction; Chrysler Bldg & [Daily] News in middle foreground. (1931)](../../../wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Atop-Empire-State-in-construction-Chrysler-Bldg-Daily-News-in-middle-foreground.-1931--199x123.jpg "Balancing on the Empire State, 1920s")
‘In 1932, artist Lester Gaba created a mannequin known as Cynthia for Saks Fifth Avenue. Cynthia had realistic imperfections like freckles, pigeon toes, and even different sized feet. Cartier and Tiffany sent her jewelry, Lilly Daché designed hats for her, and couturiers sent her their latest fashions, furrieries sent minks. She was given a credit card from Saks Fifth Avenue, a box seat subscription to the Metropolitan Opera House and made the cover of Life Magazine.
Cynthia had her own newspaper column, and a successful radio show. She went to Hollywood to appear in Artist And Models Abroad with Jack Benny, in 1938 and was photographed by Alfred Eisenstaedt.
‘Cynthia met her demise when she slipped from a chair in a beauty salon and shattered. The press reported her death, and Gaba appeared distraught, but eventually reconstructed her. In December 1942, Gaba was inducted into the army. Cynthia retired, and it wasn’t until 1953 that she came back to the public in a TV show, but the magic was over’
- Wikipedia
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Images by Alfred Eisenstaedt
This capsule was curated by Ruth Rogers
oh I love Cynthia on the bus and on the dinner date…what a funny thing.
Interesting thing… quite a psychological case study also.
Crazy people. I bet they had nothing better to do that entertain the fancy ones with that kind of stupidity instead of doing something for the nation in a time of crisis.
Performance art, 1930s.
Anyone else find this immensely disturbing?
That is so creepy.
And, while we’re on it, it’s hard to believe that ceramic husk had more opportunities in life than the attendant holding the car door open (picture 33).