473

CHARLIE CHAPLIN'S SCREEN-USED BAMBOO CANE

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:10,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
CHARLIE CHAPLIN'S SCREEN-USED BAMBOO CANE
<b>473. CHARLIE CHAPLIN'S SCREEN-USED BAMBOO CANE </b>An historic film relic, literally an icon representing America's film industry: Charlie Chaplin's screen-used bamboo cane, with unimpeachable provenance! The cane measures 33" tall and approx. 3/4" wide at its widest point, lightly shellacked. It shows clear signs of use, bearing slight wear at the inside of the upper curved handle where the cane would have been gripped, with additional wear at the very bottom. This important relic was obtained by our consignor directly from talk-show host Joe Franklin, and his notarized letter of provenance accompanies the jacket. It reads, in part: "<i>...Charlie Chaplin's thirty-five inch vintage bamboo cane was originally given by Chaplin personally to his close friend, actress Gloria Swanson, at the Chaplin Studios...in 1931. Gloria Swanson was among Chaplin's first co-stars in film, performing with Chaplin in his 1915 `Charlie's New Job'...The two remained life-long friends and confidants...Chaplin, as related by Gloria Swanson [to me], presented the cane to her in and around the time that Chaplin was making his famous film, `City Lights'...The cane remained in Swanson's personal collection of mementos until the 1970s...Swanson and I had become close friends in the 1970s when we met during Swanson's appearance on Broadway in the production of `Butterflies Are Free'. Knowing my admiration of Chaplin, Swanson agreed to make Chaplin's bamboo cane a part of the Joe Franklin Archives...I also, it is a great pleasure to note, had the opportunity to know Chaplin. The actor was on my radio show...I hereby certify that the aforementioned item is the original and is 100% authentic...</i>". The lot also includes two color photographs of Joe Franklin beaming as he holds the cane in his hands. From Franklin, the item passed directly to our consignor, a personal acquaintance of Franklin, who in turn consigned this fine relic. The cane is handsomely framed in a black glossy frame, beside an image of Chaplin in character as "The Tramp", and includes a plaque reading: "<i>CHARLIE CHAPLIN'S SCREEN-USED CANE</i>". Of course, Chaplin must have had a few canes for use on-screen - the last recorded sale of such a cane fetched over $16,000. We cannot imagine a more important film relic!
<b>$10,000-20,000</b>