How do we work?

The best first step in our venture is for you to visit our workshop in Epe. No matter how impressed you are with our brochure or website, after your visit you will agree that our fairytale world can only really be appreciated in person. You will be amazed by the impact our realistic figures have on you. You can pass on the same impact to your visitors, which will be enough for them to pay another visit to your museum or mansion house!

We start off by making a note of your wishes during or after your visit. It is very important to get an idea about what you expect, particularly because of the almost never-ending possibilities. If you would like to reincarnate figures from a particular period in history, we can help you by carrying out research into the style of dress in that period. We will then use this information to make you a proposal. We create a design sketch of a costume, which often includes suggestions for colours and types of fabric and accessories. The choice of colour may be determined by the entourage which accompanies the figure. Thus it is generally necessary to make an appointment for us to view the location first hand.

The next step involves selecting the most suitable figure to display the clothing. Although there is a wide range of possibilities, we will almost always realise the desired result. We have many figures and heads in stock and can also deliver from our depot within a few days.

Once the design is ready and the right figure has been selected to display the clothes, our pattern designer will go to work. Patterns are drawn to perfectly fit the selected figure.

In the meantime, we carefully purchase the desired fabrics. Hairpieces, hats, decorative bands and other accessories are put together with utmost care or made by hand.

Once the patterns have been drawn, we create the custom-made costume. Each item of clothing is hand made, which is also true for the stunning embroidery. While this is being realised, we keep you informed about progress.

When the costume is ready, it is fitted to the display figure and often fixed semi-permanently in place. If you state beforehand that it must be possible to dress and undress the figure, then we will take this into consideration. If this is not necessary, it is often easier to make the clothes fit better on the figure.

The next step involves fitting a hairpiece. Almost every hairpiece is customised by our make-up artist, Judith Mentink.

Rousseau’s clothes have been fitted on a flexible figure and only his head needs to be attached.

The head has been custom-made to resemble what Rousseau would have looked like.

The hairpiece is then added without it being customised by Judith.

Jean Jacques Rousseau after treatment by Judith.

Here is an example of Judith’s work.

The final step involves adding accessories to the figure. A hole is made in the shoes to make way for foot pins. However, some figures are fixed in place using calf pins. Other possible accessories include: a hat, jewellery, feathers, a small bag or pouch, a watch etc.

We proceed with delivery once the figure is fully complete. We are responsible for transport and placement in almost all cases. Handling and placement of our figures requires so much skill and technique that we prefer to carry it out ourselves. Thus there is no need for you to make arrangements - which is easy and trouble-free.

Using what?

We work almost exclusively with the prettiest display figures. We also make the heads ourselves and fix them to the mannequins. If desired, mannequins can be flexible which enables them to assume almost any position. We buy the fabrics, hairpieces, shoes, hats and accessories from all over the world in order to create the most beautiful combinations. Each minute detail is carefully matched to the costume in terms of colour and design. We thus realise that accessories must reflect reality.

An eye for detail

When you buy one of our historically dressed display figures, you are actually purchasing a unique product. A figure will only be created once. We always do this with utmost care and a fine eye for detail. We pay a great deal of attention to each design and are very enthusiastic in our approach – which can be seen in the results.