Houdini, Harry. Plaster Bust of Harry Houdini. New York[?], ca. 1902. Handsome sculpture picturing Houdini’s bust atop a plinth, with a red female devil whispering in his ear. Text below Houdini’s head inside a laurel wreath, from which hangs an open set of handcuffs, reads, “The Original Handcuff King.” Houdini’s name has been cast into the base near the bottom. 12 ¾” high. The base of the sculpture is signed by the artist, “B. Hermly [?], 135 West 10 N.Y.” Scratched and worn, nose repaired, but good condition overall. One of two known examples.
John Mulholland, writing in The Sphinx Vol. 50, No. 6 (Dec. 1951), dedicated a full page to what he dubbed “Mementos of the Masters.” In describing the Houdini bust, he commented that it “…is one he had made on his first trip to England to advertise his handcuff act. Very few copies were cast.” The second image, pictured here, shows the bust formerly in Mulholland's collection.