FELLOWS | A CHARMING SOUVENIR OF THE FAMOUS 'SAWING THROUGH A WOMAN'
August 2022
A saw charm given to audience participants of the iconic Sawing Through A Woman illusion sold in a Fellows auction in Birmingham on August 10th. The renowned Magician P.T. Selbit created one of the world’s most recognisable magic tricks - ‘Sawing Through A Woman’. Born Percy Thomas Tibbles in Hampstead, London in 1881, Selbit started out as an apprentice to a silversmith who leased space to magician Charles Morritt. Here, he learnt card tricks and illusions from Morritt’s collection, often studying them while the older man was away.
Tibbles wrote and performed under ‘P.T. Selbit’, a pseudonym derived from his own name, premiering his popular illusion at the Finsbury Park Empire Theatre in London on 17th January 1921, facing publicity and scandal. Here, he made use of audience volunteers during the act, including Gladys Eveline Curtis (née Bunce) who was given a little saw charm to commemorate the act.
Eveline’s granddaughter, Eileen, tells the story: “This gold saw was given to my grandmother by the Magician P.T. Selbit for assisting in his sawing through a woman in half act at his show at the Finsbury Park Empire in 1921. It has been kept by my family ever since. Members of the audience were invited on stage to help with the act and my grandmother took part.”
The gold saw is fashioned as a small charm, with the engraving on it reading SAWING THROUGH A WOMAN WITH P.T. SELBIT’S COMPLIMENTS. The charm weighs 1.5g and is made of 9ct gold. Fellows entered the charm into auction on August 9th with an estimate of £30 - £50.
Jewellery auction Manager, Alex Duffy said, “It is always exciting when an unusual item comes through our doors, so you can imagine my intrigue when reading the words 'SAWING THROUGH A WOMAN' on a charm. After the initial concern, learning that this is in fact to commemorate the participation in one of magic's most famous illusions, I was both relieved and fascinated. Being awarded by P.T. Selbit himself, the magician regarded as the first to introduce this macabre trick to the public, makes it all the more special. We are delighted to offer such a piece for sale and I'm sure the buyers and collectors will share our enthusiasm.”
Cover image credit: “State Library Victoria W. G. Alma, conjuring collection”.
Fellows Auctioneers, 29 Charles Street, Mayfair, London W1J 5DT
