automatonophilia

Here photographed by the eminent Alfred Eisenstaedt for LIFE magazine at the Stork Club in 1937, via the always excellent Everlasting Blört, we are graced with the presence of New York socialite Cynthia the Mannequin, created by sculptor and window-dressing professional Lester Gaba (*1907 - †1987).
Cynthia retained many of the realistic imperfection found in the individual that she was modelled off of as did all of the many Gaba Girls displays to follow. Although fully aware of the ludicrous nature of his performance art and the attention it was receiving, Gaba’s contribution were pioneering and had influence on other artist including Andy Warhol and Roy Liechtenstein and killing off Cynthia with his conscription into the war effort, Gaba was willing to once again humour fans in 1953 television interview before retiring her for good while continuing work in fashion and marketing.