Salon de Magie: The Klosterman Collection Part I

Herrmann, Alexander. Sequined Devil’s Head from Herrmann’s Costume. Circa 1890. Red, silver, and gold sequins sewn to a fabric devil’s head, formerly part of Herrmann’s elaborate stage costume. With a typed caption laid in stating, “Mephisto head fro Herrmann’s costume / The Worthington Collection.” Framed in a shadow box, 15 x 8 ?". The look of the archetypical magician – that of a devilish man with van dyke and mustache – is based on Herrmann’s looks. So popular was he as a performer that his image became truly iconic. Herrmann played up his Mephistophelean qualities, dressing as the devil himself during portions of his performance. These two fragments are perhaps the only surviving portions of his Mephistopheles costume.