Iconic Charlie Chaplin hat and cane fetch $62,000 at Bonhams auction

Los Angeles, CA, United States (4E) – The iconic bowler hat and cane of one of the greatest personalities in Hollywood History, Charlie Chaplin, has fetched over $62,000 at an auction in Los Angeles Sunday.

The 33-inch bamboo cane with an unfinished tip and visibly worn black felt bowler hat bore an inscription in black ink that read “CCLT 1936,” which stands for Charlie Chaplin Little Tramp (his signature character). The date stands for the year Chaplin retired from showbiz, just after the release of ‘Modern Times.’

These items were from the Mammoth Cave Wax museum in Cave City, KT. Herbert Moore, the museum’s director, stated that the cane and hat have been in his possession since 1966, when given to him by wax sculptor Katherine Stubergh Keller, who was hired to create a bust for Chaplin in 1936.

Along with the cane and hat was a copy of a news clipping that bears a photograph of Chaplin and Keller posing with her sculpture.

Some of the items included a wicker chair from the set of classic film ‘Casablanca,’ a script of ‘Annie Hall,’ and Norma Shearer’s monogramed silk sheets.

The Entertainment Memorabilia and Animation Art auction, which included around 400 items, was held at Bonhams along Sunset Boulevard.

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