Images(6)

Prop, Theatrical

Object number2015.99.14 a,b

Date2005

MediumPaper/Paint/Fabric/Metal/Plastic/Wood/Rubber

Credit LineGift of Macy's Inc.

DescriptionWicked stepsisters window figures on a wood and metal base with electrical and mechanical elements. Proper right stepsister is taller and skinnier, while the proper left stepsister is shorter and fatter. Paper-based-material torsos, arms, and heads painted flesh-colored and faces also have painted features. Both figures wear green dresses that are adorned with prisms, ribbon, sequins, embroidery, netting, and other details that are glued and sewn in place. Both figures have pinkish fabric hair in bouffant style with ringlets and gold adornments. Each has pink earrings glued in place. The proper left stepsister holds a fan in her proper left hand. The proper right stepsister holds her proper right hand on her hip and her proper left hand to her mouth as if whispering to the other stepsister. Back of both figures are unfinished and have metal pins sticking out of the back of their heads/necks. Both figures sit on a metal armature that is attached to the original wood frame base. Base contains motor, electrical components, and a fan that has a metal screen over it. A rubber electrical cord emanates from the electrical components and ends in a three-pronged plug. Proper right stepsister's head detaches (taller and skinnier stepsister). When the figures are plugged in the proper right stepsister moves forward and backward and the proper left stepsister's proper left hand moves up and down.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 42 × 27 × 20 in. (106.7 × 68.6 × 50.8 cm)
InscriptionsHandwritten text on metal box cover inside base reads "MF / 7-3 / 7-4 / 2005 / ME" and on side of wood base reads "Macy's / #13 / Add to / Balcony".
Two paper tags were removed from the base and stored in the object folder: pink tag has black handwritten text "VAN / skinny stepsister / leans forward with fan / hand to mouth, whispers / in fat sister ear / call if questions / (as per Nico)" and yellow tag has black handwritten text "VAN" on one side and in graphite on the other side "917 / 325 / 4390".
Historical NotesThe Cinderella figures were originally displayed at Marshall-Fields in 2005 and were then displayed at Kaufmann's in downtown Pittsburgh circa 2007. Part of a collection of artifacts that document the downtown location of Kaufmann’s (became Macy’s) department store. This large collection of items was field gathered from the downtown location of Macy’s (formerly Kaufmann’s) after the store’s final closing was announced in the fall of 2015. ILabel TextMacy’s 2007 Christmas display in Pittsburgh told the story of Cinderella in five windows. The figures symbolized the change that took place nationwide in 2006 when Federated Department Stores converted many legendary names to Macy’s. The Cinderella figures originally came from Chicago, where they were shown at Marshall Field’s.

Related institution Kaufmann's Department Store (1871 - 2005)

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