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Art of the Day: La Femme Araignee, Parisian Circus Poster for Spidora

Posted in art, Auction, circus, sideshow, video, tagged circus poster, poster, sideshow talker, Spider Girl, Spider Woman, Spidora, Walt Hudson on February 6, 2016| Leave a Comment »

La Femme Araignee. Cirque Daniellis. Paris: Aussel, ca. 1937. One-sheet. Potter and Potter Auctions

This rare and delightful 1937 French circus poster is on the auction block today at Potter and Potter’s sale. “La Femme Araignee” is an advertisement for Cirque Daniellis’ spider woman. Known as the Spidora sideshow illusion on American carnival midways, it features a young lady with the head of a beautiful girl and the body of a giant spider.

Missed it? Check out the video below of Walt Hudson’s Spidora pitch and see her for yourself. “She’s strange, she’s unusual, she’s a lovely little girl. I’m going to let you look at her. Shortly afterwards we’re going to take her off the web and feed her, and you’ll have an opportunity perhaps to see that…” Little Spidora was an attraction at Atlantic City’s Steel Pier, Hudson says. And why by the way do we not currently have a Spidora single-o in Coney Island?

Potter and Potter’s live auction is on February 6 in Chicago but the catalogue is online and you can bid on the poster now or in real time during the auction.

Update: The poster sold for $1,200 plus a 22% buyer’s premium.

Rare & Vintage: A Collection of Clown Shoes to Try On

Posted in Artifacts, circus, tagged 1stdibs Gallery, Antiques, circus, clown, clown shoes, collectibles, Darrell Dean Antiques & Decorative Arts, flap shoes, Shoes, vintage on January 14, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Collection of Clown Shoes at Darrell Dean
Antiques & Decorative Arts, 1stdibs Gallery

You may have heard that laughter is therapeutic but did you know that trying on clown shoes is too? “I can’t tell you how much trying on a pair relieves stress and blood pressure. People really love it,” says Darrell Dean, a dealer of antiques and decorative arts in Kensington, Maryland, who collects clown shoes. “I have had probably 50 to 60 pair, but have regrettably had to sell some as this is my business. But there are always more to come,” he adds. A selection is on display online and at 1stdibs Gallery at the New York Design Center (200 Lexington Avenue, 10th floor), where you can try them on.

Dean says the most common question he gets is “Where did you get all these clown shoes?” His answer: “A clown goes out of business everyday and I get their shoes.” He started about six years ago and generally collects one pair at a time but has occasionally gotten three to four pair from the same retiring clown. There is a wonderful diversity to the shoes, from colorfully decorated ones with bulbous toe caps to long, narrow flap shoes that comically slap the floor to a jester’s curly toed pair bedizened with bells.

“I was never really interested in the remaining clown outfit or even the history of the clown or previous owner,” Dean tells ATZ. “To me the worn and weathered clown shoes speak for themselves and tell an interesting story and as a large group or collection are impressive. Most people are very happy to see and touch clown shoes, and trying on a pair will change your life for sure.”

Collection of Clown Shoes at Darrell Dean
Antiques & Decorative Arts

NYU Heralds Circus Now 2016 with Window Exhibit of Ringling Costumes

Posted in circus, tagged circus costumes, costume design, Eduardo Sicangco, Gregg Barnes, New York University, Ringling, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Skirball Center, Susan Hilferty on January 11, 2016| 1 Comment »

Window Exhibit Featuring Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Costumes at NYU Skirball. January 9, 2016. Photo © Tricia Vita

Thirteen windows at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts are resplendent with costumes designed for Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. The work of three acclaimed costume designers and NYU graduates is featured: Gregg Barnes (Tony Award, Follies, The Drowsy Chaperone), Susan Hilferty (Tony Award, Wicked), and Eduardo Sicangco (Broadway Bares, The Harlem Nutcracker). The displays also feature circus memorabilia, photographs, and historical info. Located at 566 LaGuardia Place and around the corner on West 3rd Street, the window exhibit debuted during the holidays and is on view through January 18.

The costume exhibit heralds this week’s performances at NYU Skirball by six international circus companies. Circus Now 2016 will feature Acrobatic Conundrum (Seattle), Oktobre (France), Barely Methodical Troupe (U.K), Andréane Leclerc (Canada), Water on Mars (Sweden), and Aloft Circus Arts (Chicago). Performances are January 14, 15 and 16 at 8 pm. Tickets range from $39 – $50. Visit www.nyuskirball.org for additional info.