Beheaded Black Man Récalcitant Décapité Cane

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Masterpiece Cane Auction

By Kimball Sterling

May 24, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-05-24 11:00:00 2025-05-24 11:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Masterpiece Cane Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/kimball-sterling/masterpiece-cane-auction-19479
A European Masterpiece Cane Auction Kimball Sterling kimballsterling@earthlink.net

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• Lot Description
  Ca 1890 A well-crafted ebony knob showcases the head of a Black man, characterized by an elongated face with a wide, flat nose and full, expressive lips. His striking features are enhanced by inset black and white enamel eyes that give the portrait a special touch and liveliness. Additionally, a cap atop short, curly hair adds texture and character to the artwork. The head is mounted on a malacca shaft adorned with a slender yellow metal collar ring and a black horn ferrule. A tiny knife concealed in the threaded lower part of the shaft slides through the neck above the golden metal ring collar from one side to the other without tilting the Black Man’s head. Unaffected and inexplicable, it remains in position! This cane represents a pinnacle achievement in system cane design and manufacturing, drawing parallels to perceptions in watchmaking. While most of these canes no longer function, this piece still showcases perfectly geared parts and provides an intriguing, entertaining performance. It was serviced by the right expert who polished the tiny blade to ensure smooth gliding through the neck. Notably, the black man’s head knob is uncommonly larger than usual. The famous Parisian merchant of special effects, Charles de Vere (1843-1931), occasionally offered this cane in reference to the eponymous play The Recalcitrant Décapité (Beheaded), created by Georges Méliès (1861- 1938) and presented at the Robert-Houdin theater. With a world record of 1200 performances for its time, the clients for the cane were affluent. H. 3 ½” x 1 ½”, O.L. 36” $2,200-$3,000 Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin (De cember 7, 1805 – June 13, 1871) was a French watchmaker, magician, and illusionist, widely recognized as the father of modern conjuring. He transformed magic from a pastime for the lower classes, typically seen at fairs, into entertainment for the wealthy, which he presented in a theatre he opened in Paris- a legacy upheld by the tradition of modern magicians performing in tails. His success continued with Georges Méliès, who in 1888 acquired the performance rights to the Robert-Houdin Theater and managed it alongside his burgeoning film career. His grand, exotic, and fantastical illusions, always presented with meticulous attention to detail, caused a sensation. A multifaceted artist, Méliès designed the sets, wrote the scripts, engineered the stage machinery, and devised the tricks himself. The Recalcitrant Beheaded—initially presented under the name American Spiritualistic Mediums—premiered in March 1891. It was an instant success, setting a record for longevity with over 1,200 performances. This "spiritual buffoonery" followed The Enchanter Alcofrisbas (1889), which also featured a decapitated character chasing after his own head, spirited away by a skeleton. Méliès would revisit the decapitation theme multiple times, as it was highly popular in illusionist theaters then. Poster for the Magical Skit The Recalcitrant Beheaded (1891)
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