$800
Round De Kolta-type Vanishing Birdcage. Lake Forest, John McKinven, ca. 1985. An oval metal cage vanishes from between the magician’s hands. Brass and wire cage modeled on the original design of the great inventive French magician Joseph Buatier de Kolta. Includes cage, pull, straps, vest and bench-made brass pulley. Rigid cage measures 13 ½ x 7 x 7”. Included is McKinven’s file of notes and details on manufacturing the cage. Two sections of connecting chain in need of repair, but overall good working condition. Though most commonly performed with much smaller rectangular cages (see next lot), the original version of this classic effect, as devised by de Kolta, was performed with a cage of the design offered here. John McKinven undertook the task of recreating de Kolta’s original design and performing it as well, putting him in an elite group of perhaps less than ten magicians to ever successfully craft and perform the effect in the manner in which it was invented. This cage is almost twice the size of most others used for the same effect, and was made for McKinven’s personal use, but never offered for sale.
Auctioneer:
Potter & Potter
Date:
2012-05-13
