This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/29/2022
VISIBLE DIE THROUGH HAT. Winterthur, Switzerland: Dr. Borgeaud, 1937. A large die penetrates the crown of a borrowed opera hat. The magician then offers to repeat the trick, but this time, visibly. The hat is balanced on top of the die. Now, slowly and visibly, the hat sinks down – bit by bit - through the die, as if one solid is melting through the other. A fine and elaborate brass and roller-shade mechanism incorporated into the table causes the visible penetration effect. 3” die. Height of table 39”. Includes vintage folding silk opera hat. A mechanical masterpiece and believed to be the only example made by Winthertur. Decades after Dr. Borgeaud created this device, Rüdiger Deutsch, himself a renowned craftsman, manufactured six similar Visible Die Through Hat props with his own refinements. This prop is the original on which Deutsch’s recreations were based.