The famous Madame Tussaud started out in Paris during the French Revolution. Marie Tussaud used to make ‘death masks’ of famous people who’s heads had been chopped by the Guillotine. She went on tour to Britain for 30 years with her collection before setting up her waxworks in London.

Marie Tussaud

Marie Tussaud, original name Marie Grosholtz, (born December 1, 1761, Strasbourg, France—died April 16, 1850, London, England), French-born founder of Madame Tussaud’s museum of wax figures, in central London.

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Her early life was spent first in Bern and then in Paris, where she learned the art of wax modeling from Philippe Curtius, whose two celebrated wax museums she inherited upon his death in 1794. From 1780 until the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789, she served as ar… Continue Reading (2 minute read)