This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/9/2023
MASKELYNE, J.N. (1839 – 1917). Photograph of Maskelyne’s Plate Spinning Act. [London], ca. 1905. A half-length sepia tone image of the great British magician presenting an act perennially popular at his London theaters, a routine of spinning and dancing dinner plates and a large wash basin atop a heavy wooden table. On a plain mount with hand-drawn rule line around the image, 5 ½ x 8 ¼”. Soiling and spotting with short penciled notations to margin and verso. RARE; the first example of this photograph we have offered for sale.
A feat of digital dexterity not often seen; Maskelyne made a specialty of this juggling stunt for nearly as long as any other illusion in his career. The most elaborate version of the stunt involved a spiral-shaped ramp at the side of the large table, up and down which Maskelyne could direct the spinning plates with both ease and grace. He recorded the techniques used in the act in C. Lang Neil’s 1902 book, The Modern Conjurer.