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Aldo FranceschiniPair of painted panels Magic by Aldo Franceschini for Magician Max Diff
$4,770.49
£3,568.64
€3,980
CA$6,567.96
A$7,187.84
CHF 3,798.14
MX$85,791.65
NOK 48,469.05
SEK 44,328.89
DKK 30,323.10
About the Item
Exceptional pair of painted panels, which were used as doors and belonged to the renowned French magician Max Diff, are the work of painter Aldo Franceschini and dated around 1970. A painting with a "magical" or even surrealist theme is depicted on a black background.
The rabbit, who seems to have just come out of a top hat, is presented in an almost human pose, sitting on its hind legs and raising its wand with one of its front paws. Two white doves fly over the stage, one carrying a card from the deck below and the other holding a garland of flags (United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, etc.), likely a reference to the countries in which our magician worked. All this is done using striking and vibrant colors against the dark background, creating a mysterious atmosphere reminiscent of illusionism.
Maxime Roux, the magician Max Dif (1911-1999)
The French magician Max Dif is recognized for his important contributions to the history of sleight of hand—the art or skill of performing sleight of hand and other tricks to entertain audiences—through illustrated books documenting his techniques and the evolution of his tricks. His real name was Maxime Roux, and he was born in 1911 in Cantal, but soon moved to Limoges. He was a typographer and linotypist, and later became a proofreader for the newspaper Le Populaire du Centre.
From a young age, he was passionate about the world of magic and, together with two friends, founded "The Young Trio," a group with which they performed throughout the region. Together with his wife Eva, who was a theater clairvoyant, he staged and presented his show "Le Revue des Illusions" to the Limoges public. It also featured an elegant performance involving cigarette and ball manipulation. In the cigarette act, lit cigarettes began to appear in his empty hands. In 1956, he presented a show in Barcelona. He even participated in the World Magic Festival.
In 1974, he retired from the stage, but devoted himself to writing books about his tricks, techniques, and magic in general. That same year, he published his three-volume work "History and Technical Evolution of Conjuring." In 1983, he gained popularity thanks to his book "Mythology of the Marvelous." In 1987, he published "The Illustrated History of Conjuring" and then "The Magic Wand" in 1988. One of his most iconic works is "Illustrated History of Prestidigitation," as it is illustrated and blends history, poetry, and technique.
He founded the Cercle Robert-Houdin du Limousin, where he instilled a dynamic and mentored many magicians who excelled in competitions organized by the French Association of Conjuring Artists. He served as president until his death in 1999.
He was awarded the Medal of Honor of the city of Limoges and received the highest possible distinction from the French Association of Conjuring Artists, the Robert-Houdin Gold Medal and a Gold Wand. He received the George Méliès Prize for his works, and also the Golden Dove in Antibes. The municipality of Couzeix named one of its streets after Max Dif in 2002.
Max Dif was a member of numerous Illusionist Societies around the world: Spain, England, Italy, and the United States. In his books, apart from documenting magic, he also conveys the artistic side of the discipline and highlights the need for mystery, poetry, wonder, and illusionism. That's why his works contain hundreds of illustrations and photographs.
Technical Information
Technique on support: Painted panel
Title of work: “Magic”
Author: Aldo Franceschini
Hand-signed “ALDO”
Period: 1970s
Country of origin: France
Provenance: Max Dif's private collection
Good condition commensurate with age and use
Dimensions of each panel/door: 196 x 71 x 3.5 cm
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