Another Les Hemstock “Charlie Chaplin” Bamboo Cane?

This is an update to previous articles which cataloged information and questions regarding a bamboo cane attributed to use by Charlie Chaplin, which Les Hemstock appeared to have acquired on eBay and consigned for sale with Signature House and their Auction XXXV event in October 2008, where it was withdrawn prior to the live auction. 

This appears to have subsequently sold on eBay, though there is a new active listing for a “Charlie Chaplin” cane offered for sale on eBay by Les Hemstock – presumably another (second) bamboo cane?

The current listing is photographed from the opposite side – in addition to being a poor quality photo of low resolution – and is therefore challenging to compare to the photos in the prior listings.

However, it is marketed with an entirely different story from the prior cane – the first was claimed to have originally been “acquired at MGM/Warner Brothers auction in St. Louis, MO, in 1991“, with the current listing stating it was purchased “MANY YEARS AGO AT STORE IN HOLLYWOOD“.  This current auction is presumably for a different, second Charlie Chaplin cane marketed as authentic and offered for sale with a low starting bid ($199).

As archived in a prior article, examples of the same prop with stronger provenance have sold through Christie’s auction house for approximately $10,000, $80,000, and $90,000.

The Les Hemstock example, which was withdrawn by Signature Auction House in October 2008 , shows a recorded eBay sale of $422.79 last month (December 10, 2008) via the kcotsmeh account (Bid History Archive).

The following articles discuss the previous cane offered for sale to the marketplace:

• Signature House Entertainment Memorabilia Auctions – Questions, Observations

• Multiple Topic Update: Signature House Auction, Recent Superman Auctions, Les Hemstock (“kcotsmeh”)

• Follow-Up: Charlie Chaplin Canes (Christie’s Auctions)

• Les Hemstock “Charlie Chaplin” Bamboo Cane Returns to Market; Classic Hollywood Hats

Below is a high resolution photo (2200×1775) from Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush, to which both canes have been attributed (the first explicitly, the second implied via use of a poster from the film in the marketing photos):

Click for High Resolution

As noted in the original analysis, the cane seen in this photo has much more prominent knots, whereas the ones seen in the Les Hemstock auctions appear to be much different.

Below is an archive of the current listing in which Mr. Hemstock appears to offer a second Charlie Chaplin bamboo cane characterized as original:

Current eBay Listing: “kcotsmeh” (Les Hemstock)

Auction Title: “CHARLIE CHAPLIN SCREEN USED CANE VINTAGE MOVIE PROP”

Noted Source/Provenance: “…FROM A SELLER WHOSE UNCLE HAD PURCHASED IT MANY YEARS AGO AT STORE IN HOLLYWOOD”

eBay Item #: 140296236610

Scheduled End Date: 01/27/09

Auction Result: Starting Bid $199.00, Buy It Now $599.00

Full Resolution Archive: “CHARLIE CHAPLIN SCREEN USED CANE VINTAGE MOVIE PROP”

Marketing Description:

HERE IS A VINTAGE CHARLIE CHAPLIN CANE USED IN HIS EARLY SILENT FILMS – I PURCHASED THIS PROP FROM A SELLER WHOSE UNCLE HAD PURCHASED IT MANY YEARS AGO AT STORE IN HOLLYWOOD. HE SOLD IT TO ME WITH A SIGNED LETTER OF PROVENANCE DETAILING THE PURCHASE WHICH IS ALSO INCLUDED FOR THE WINNING BIDDER – BUYER PAYS SHIPPING – PAYPAL ACCEPTED – THANK YOU!

Marketing Photo:

Jason De Bord