armaturer

Armaturer is a rarely used English noun for a person who makes or works with armatures—internal frames used to support or shape an object. In the arts, an armaturer designs and builds the armature that gives a sculpture, maquette, or stop-motion puppet its form and articulations. Typical tasks include selecting materials (wire, metal rods, brass, aluminum, or composites), shaping a central core, joining joints, and incorporating points of articulation while ensuring the model remains light and balanced. The armaturer collaborates with sculptors, animators, and model makers to meet artistic and technical requirements, and may adjust the frame as the piece evolves.

In some regional or historical contexts, armaturer can refer more broadly to a tradesperson who installs or repairs armatures or fittings in machinery, plumbing, or hydraulic systems. This usage is less common today, and terms such as fitter, technician, or plumber are typically used for those roles.

The word is relatively obscure in contemporary English and is most often encountered in specialized studios, historical documents, or discussions of sculpture and model making.