Bell-Two
New member
I went to a park this morning and found this piece of jewelry; it is a fur clip that was used to hold a ladies fur stole together. Fashioned as Charlie McCarthy the famous dummy of Edgar Bergen it was made in the late 1930’s and first advertised in Women’s Wear Daily in October 1937. It turns out that it is a collector’s item and imagine my surprise when I found this listing for it. Other listings are similar in value. The one I found is in excellent condition. The mouth still works on it.
Coro Late 1930's Charlie McCarthy Mechanical Figural Fur Clip Book Piece $224 USD SALE
Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his sidekick Charlie McCarthy were real superstars in the late 1930’s and 1940’s. This wonderful fur clip has a little lever that can be used to make Charlie McCarthy’s mouth move. Charlie is absolutely charming, from his top hat to his monocle!
Condition: Excellent, with a 1mm area of enamel wear on the upper edge of Charlie’s monocle. Both the mechanical lever and the fur clip mechanism work well.
Measurements: 1.25 by .75 inches (3.2 by 1.9 cm)
Marks: “Pat 2038343” and “MF’D UNDER EXCLUSIVE LICENSE FROM EDGAR BERGEN AND CHARLIE MCCARTHY INC.” The utility patent was issued to Gaston Candas in 1936. According to the Brunialtis (see below), Women’s Wear Daily of Oct. 29, 1937 carried an advertisement stating that the piece was produced by Cohn & Rosenberger (Coro).
Reference: “American Costume Jewelry: Art & Industry, 1935-1950”, Brunialti, page 94, where the clip is pictured along with the utility patent, the 1937 advertisement, and a photo of Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy.
This piece was advertised in the October 29, 1937 Women's Wear Daily. The showed a drawing of the clip, and the following text: "Charlie McCarthy, the dummy of the radio, enters the jewelry field in this amusing clip with a press clip which moves the lower lip and chin exactly in the fashion of the original."
Coro Late 1930's Charlie McCarthy Mechanical Figural Fur Clip Book Piece $224 USD SALE
Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his sidekick Charlie McCarthy were real superstars in the late 1930’s and 1940’s. This wonderful fur clip has a little lever that can be used to make Charlie McCarthy’s mouth move. Charlie is absolutely charming, from his top hat to his monocle!
Condition: Excellent, with a 1mm area of enamel wear on the upper edge of Charlie’s monocle. Both the mechanical lever and the fur clip mechanism work well.
Measurements: 1.25 by .75 inches (3.2 by 1.9 cm)
Marks: “Pat 2038343” and “MF’D UNDER EXCLUSIVE LICENSE FROM EDGAR BERGEN AND CHARLIE MCCARTHY INC.” The utility patent was issued to Gaston Candas in 1936. According to the Brunialtis (see below), Women’s Wear Daily of Oct. 29, 1937 carried an advertisement stating that the piece was produced by Cohn & Rosenberger (Coro).
Reference: “American Costume Jewelry: Art & Industry, 1935-1950”, Brunialti, page 94, where the clip is pictured along with the utility patent, the 1937 advertisement, and a photo of Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy.
This piece was advertised in the October 29, 1937 Women's Wear Daily. The showed a drawing of the clip, and the following text: "Charlie McCarthy, the dummy of the radio, enters the jewelry field in this amusing clip with a press clip which moves the lower lip and chin exactly in the fashion of the original."
n a fantastic find.
