Description:

CHARLIE CHAPLIN'S SCREEN-USED BAMBOO CANE, PRESENTED TO FELLOW SILENT FILM STAR GLORIA SWANSON
An historic film relic, literally an icon representing America's film industry: Charlie Chaplin's screen-used bamboo cane, with unimpeachable provenance. The lightly-shellacked cane measures 33" tall and approximately 3/4" wide at its widest point. Careful viewing of Chaplin's films over the years shows that he used a variety of canes with varying "knuckle" sizes and spacing. In 1916 and 1917, Chaplin made a series of films for the Mutual Corporation and used a number of canes in these pictures, all nearly identical to this example - and unlike canes used by the star in earlier and later films. Many hundreds of stills and film clips from the Mutual Films exist, but a determined reseracher may uncover an exact match. The cane 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 originated from the personal collection of author and radio and television talk-show host JOE FRANKLIN (1926-2015). Franklin's career spanned nearly fifty years and included interviews with Chaplin, John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe (with whom Franklin co-authored "The Marilyn Monroe Story" in 1953), Jayne Mansfield, Cary Grant, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, Rudy Vallee, Jimmy Durante, Madonna, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, The Ramones, Lou Albano and five U.S. Presidents. He also authored many reference books on film and much light reading. Franklin's notarized letter of provenance accompanies the cane. It reads, in part: "…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 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…". With Franklin's letter of provenance are two original color photographs of Franklin beaming as he holds the cane in his hands. From Franklin, the item passed directly to a personal acquaintance of Franklin, who sold the cane in 2002 to a member of an internationally -recognized Southern rock band. He has now has consigned this fine relic for sale. The cane is handsomely framed in a custom black-finished steel case, 11" x 38" x 3". Chaplin must have had a few canes for use on-screen - the last recorded sale of a cane brought over $16,000, and a different sale of one of Chaplin's bowler hats and a cane fetched $60,000. We simply cannot imagine a more emblematic film relic, particularly notable in light of the opening of the Chaplin Museum in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland.

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May 25, 2016 10:30 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000