Description

 

Chaplin, Charlie (1889 – 1977)

Chaplin playfully adds a moustache to his portrait! 

A marvellous early signed approximately 9″ X 7″ formal Witzel portrait of Charlie Chaplin. Signed, circa early 1920s, by Chaplin in bold fountain pen ink,  ‘Yours truly, Chas Chaplin’. He adds, using the same pen, a playful moustache to his portrait. In very fine condition. The first time we have encountered this particular flourish by Chaplin on one of his photographs — rare and desirable in this format!

Chaplin first appeared with his trademark facial hair in the 1914 film Making a Living. After selecting his wardrobe, he decided to add a fake moustache, apparently due to the fact that producer Mack Sennett had expected him to look older. Chaplin also felt that the toothbrush moustache — as it became known — had a comical appearance, and was small enough not to hide his facial expressions. The moustache became Chaplin’s instantly recognisable attribute in this role as the tramp; a distinctly working class, anti-fashionable embellishment.