Fine Form: How to Create an Eye-Catching Tribal Jewelry Display With a Manikin Hand

Image credit: Quinn Cooper Style

I'm no stranger to using my manikin hand and animal-shaped tchotchkes as ring displays (as evidenced here and here), but Quinn Cooper takes it to the next level on her blog. I love the use of earrings and bracelets to mix up the variety on the wooden manikin hand. The addition of the white arm not only offers a visual contrast to the wood and gold accents here, but creates an easy (and tall!) necklace tree.

Tips for using a manikin (or mannequin) hand for display:

• You'll likely find standard wooden manikin hands at your nearest craft supply store. Other styles (like the white hand pictured) are often available in jewelry sections at major craft supply chains.
• If you're going to display the hand with its wrist, you either have to glue the hand to the base, or ensure items on the hand aren't top-heavy. The clattering of the whole shebang to the floor will be enough to scare the hell out of you, but you don't want to risk damaging your jewelry. 
• Keep the size/length of your jewelry in mind when choosing a hand. Even with a wrist base attached, the wooden hands aren't tall enough to hold longer necklaces.
• Don't feel compelled to abide by the "one ring per finger" rule. It's a jewelry display! Pull an Iris Apfel and stack 'em to your heart's content.

For those of you who enjoy the cute mice as ring holders, check out nearby thrift stores for animal knick-knacks. Anything with a smaller head or a tail can be transformed into a jewelry display--and even better: "ugly" ones can be made chic with a new paint job. Check out Pinterest for inspiration!

Time to start re-arranging my jewelry table...

Do you use a dress form or mannequin as a display? Share your photos with me, and I may feature them in an upcoming Fine Form post! E-mail photos to karlieabaker@gmail.com.