Looking to stretch your visual merchandising budget by buying a used mannequin? Or trying to find mannequin parts on Ebay to attach to your mannequin that is missing an arm or a hand? This guide will give you buying tips on a used mannequin. This guide was written by Mannequin Madness, the largest mannequin liquidator in Northern California.

The price you can pay for a used mannequin can vary widely depending upon who you purchase the mannequin from. People who sell used mannequins range from – mannequin liquidators, boutique owners who are closing their doors and selling their store fixtures, thrift stores and people holding a  garage sale to unload stuff from their grandma’s attic.

No matter where you buy your mannequin from, you should know that used mannequins fall into 4 basic categories which can impact their sales price: 

1) Virtually New – a mannequin that is technically not brand new, but its condition is so flawless it might as well be new. This type of mannequin was perhaps seldom used or in some cases never taken out the box because the retailer went out of business or changed their merchandising strategy soon after the mannequin arrived in the store. Or it may be a mannequin that was used only for photo-shoots.  

2) Gently Used – a mannequin with some dirt, slight discoloration or minor scratching. A gently used mannequin may have previously been in the store window of a high-end retailer and was well maintained and handled with care.   

3) Used – a mannequin with signs of normal wear and tear such as scuff marks and paint chips and cracks. There might also be some minor structural damage, say a broken or missing finger or crack on the arm. This mannequin might be the type that was displayed on the sales floor of a retailer and the continued handling of the mannequin caused it to show signs of “age.”

This mannequin might also have hair, make-up or a body style that is not contemporary looking because it was manufactured in the 1970’s – a golden era for mannequins.

4) Distressed – a mannequin with one or more missing limbs and/or with structural damage on its body which can occur  when a mannequin falls or is dropped on a hard surface.  Some distressed mannequins can be repaired and restored to almost new condition by a skilled mannequin refurburbisher and other distressed mannequins are useful for their parts such as for an art project or Halloween display.

In general, the better the condition the mannequin is in, the higher the price you will pay for it. Vintage mannequins, the ones with heads made from carved wood, molded papier-mâché or wax and heads with glass eyes are in a category all by themselves. They are considered collector’s pieces and typically their fragility makes them impractical for online sellers.

Why do some used mannequins cost so much?

Just because a mannequin is used, does not always mean that it will be cheap – regardless of where you purchase it from. Similar to buying automobiles, some mannequin brands hold their value because of their superior craftsmanship, unique design and established brand name. Just as a used Rolls Royce or Mercedes will cost more than a brand new Toyota, there are some brands of mannequins that are expensive even though they are used. 

A brand name mannequin with realistic features can cost between $750-$1300 new. If a used one is 50% off, it will still cost more than some of the new no-name mannequins imported from Asia which retail between $250-$400. 

Brand name mannequins cost more because they are actually fiberglass sculptures of real life humans and many of the steps involved in creating them are done by hand. Sculptors usually begin with a metal skeleton, bend it into a pose and build it up with clay. The clay figure is then cast as a mold to hundreds of identical fiberglass mannequins. The mannequin is passed through the hands of at least a dozen artisans, from sculptors to sanders to painters and this level of detail is why high end mannequins look so lifelike and their solid construction makes them more durable. Less expensive knock offs, made in Taiwan, China, Korea and Vietnam are made by machines and resemble life-size dolls and have stiffer looking poses.

If you are looking to buy a Rolls Royce or Mercedes caliber mannequin on the used market, here are some  brand names to look for: Adel Rootstein, Patina V, New John Nissan, Hindsgaul, Ralph Pucci, Greneker and Goldsmith. Usually  - but not always - mannequins produced by these companies will have their company name stamped somewhere on the mannequin – bottom of the foot, or on the butt or back, even on the head. 

Adel Rootstein mannequin with name & model number stamped                                                   on the head

There are a few other factors that can drive up the price of a used mannequin. Since the majority of mannequins in retail stores are in a standing position, a mannequin that is in a seated, reclining or athletic pose is highly sought after and the demand outstrips the supply. Also Asian mannequins, African-American mannequins and plus size mannequins are scarce in general, so a used one in good condition will command top dollar.

 Ethnic              Reclining

A few mannequin manufacturers (Rootstein and Patina V) have produced limited edition mannequins that were fabricated after real-life supermodels or entertainers. When these mannequins are no longer in production it increases the value of used ones. Another mannequin company, Ralph Pucci, commissions well-known artists and designers such as Maira Kalman, Jeffrey Fulvimari and Anna Sui to design a line of mannequins for them. Since these mannequins are popular as art pieces in addition to being a vehicle to display clothing, they can sell close to their original price of $1,100. 

 by Anna Sui        

Is it worth buying a used mannequin with broken or missing parts? 

If a used mannequin has all its parts, but they are broken or damaged, a skilled mannequin refurbisher can bring them back to life.  If there isn’t a mannequin refurbisher in your city, you can find one online and then ship the mannequin part to them. The company that we work will give us a rough estimate of the repair cost when we email them digital photos of the broken part so we can determine whether or not it is worth it.

 Before Refurbishing                       After Refurbishing

Typically the first thing that gets damaged on a mannequin is their hands, which is why you so often find used mannequins for sale with missing hands. Even if all the fingers on the hand are broken – as long as there is at least a stub attached to the wrist - there is a good chance that the hand can be repaired by the mannequin refurbisher. But if there are no hands at all, it is extremely difficult to find a replacement hand online. If you are lucky enough to know the name of the manufacturer of the mannequin, you might be able to purchase a hand from them directly if the mannequin is still in production. 

The reason why it is so hard to find replacement hands is because there is not a universal standard in the device that attaches the hands attach to the arms. Some hands have a round fitting, some are square, some have a keyhole shape – and each of these shapes come in different sizes.

If you are desperate to for a hand you could saw off the fitting on the hand and then use liquid glue to permanently affix it to the arm. But then you will be unable to remove the hand should you need to put a garment on the mannequin with a tight-fitting sleeve. Also keep in mind when looking for a mannequin hand that a mannequin with her hand on her hip will require a different hand position than a mannequin with her arms straight down. I

If your mannequin is missing arms you can buy the canvas bendable arms that attach to the mannequin via elastic bands.  These arms do not have hands but some customers simulate hands by putting gloves on the arms and stuffing the gloves with paper.

Mannequin without arms with bendable arms attached

Sometimes the toes of mannequins might be chopped off – this is done deliberately to make it easier to put shoes on the mannequin. Frequently the feet on male mannequins are chopped in half for this reason.  

Many times used mannequins are discounted if they do not have a stand to support them standing upright.  Since most female mannequins have their feet in a high heeled position, they cannot stand upright on their own. Even if the mannequin has a flat foot pose and can stand upright on its own, it runs the risk of falling down. If the mannequin has a hole in the bottom of their foot you can have a metal fabricator make one like this one 

 It is a flat metal base that has a round (or square-shaped)  rod soldered on it.  This style can work for 80% of the mannequins that have a hole in the foot, you just have to make sure the rod is not too long. The average length of the rod is 6 inches. The one disadvantage of this type of stand is that you will not be able to display shoes on the mannequin without putting a hole in the shoe.  

For more information about mannequins in general, please see the other guides written by us here are their titles:       
Buying a Mannequin? Tips so you don’t get stiffed #1  - this guide explains the various types of mannequins   - realistic, abstract, headless, bendable - and the advantages/disadvantages of each

Buying a Mannequin? Tips so you don’t get stiffed #2 – this guide explains the different types of bases for mannequins so that they can stand upright and how to select the right mannequin pose for your needs.