$24,000
Cardini (Richard Valentine Pitchford). Cardini’s Billiard Balls. Set of eleven turned wooden billiard balls and four shells (two wooden, two metal) owned and used by Cardini, the greatest magician of the nightclub era. Consisting of six white, one green, one marbled, two red, and one black ball; three white shells and one unpainted metal shell. Housed in a plush-lined case covered in black pebbled cloth with Cardini’s name stamped in gilt on the lid. The balls measure 2 ¼” in diameter, and all show wear and chipping from use. The case measures 14 ½ x 9 x 2 ¾”. The billiard balls were presented to Dr. Grossman by the Cardinis. Accompanying the Billiard Balls is a holographic letter from Swan Cardini to Dr. Grossman which describes the various billiard balls Cardini used, including those crafted of ivory and wooden sets made by Thayer. She adds, “…these are all I have left except the four he last used, which I’ll keep.”
Auctioneer:
Potter & Potter
Date:
2015-10-31
