American Museum of Natural History Research Library
author: American Museum of Natural History

From the Neck Up (Exhibition)
birth: 1947 December 2
death: 1947-1948, approximately
Exhibition. Opened December 2, 1947 and closed approximately 1947-1948. Location unknown in the American Museum of Natural History. From the Neck Up featured above-the-shoulder fashions displayed on mannequin busts from a variety of cultures and was curated by Harry L. Shapiro from the Museum's Department of Anthropology and possibly also by Katharine Benecker of the Museum's Department of Education.
Summary
From the Neck Up featured above-the-shoulder fashions displayed on mannequin busts from a variety of cultures and was curated by Harry L. Shapiro from the Museum's Department of Anthropology and possibly also by Katharine Benecker of the Museum's Department of Education (1; 2). Publicity photographs of the exhibition feature and mention a Mr. Singh and a Michel of Helena Rubenstein working on busts (3).
The exhibition featured sections titled (3):
*Why do we do what we do?: For Religion, For Protection, For Fraternal Membership, For Fashion, For Beauty
*Hats for shape
*Teeth – Beards
*The painful process
*Fuss and feathers
*Eyes
*Nose
*Ears
*The Neck
*Hair-Do
This is a condensed summary of the exhibition. For additional information, see Sources and/or Related Resources.