Two crooked briar walking sticks, once the property of Sir Harry Lauder
£2,600
Auction: 24 June 2009 at 12:00 BST
Description
within a glazed walnut display case, with inscription: 'Sir Harry Lauder's crooked sticks (famous Scottish Minstrel 1870 - 1950) acquired by Jimmy Logan OBE from Lauder Ha' 1966'
Dimensions
89cm and 86cm long
Footnote
Note: Sir Harry Lauder is best remembered as a the 'tartan comic' brandishing his trademark twisted walking stick. One of his twisted sticks was brought from Japan as a gift from Edward Prince of Wales as a token of his appreciation.
Starting his career as a singer, he soon gained recognition and became popular in the United States, where he returned twenty-two times during his career. He also toured Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Far East. He was hugely popular both in the variety theatres and in pantomime. As a result of his work in the First World War, he was knighted in 1919.
He died in 1950 and his home 'Lauder Ha' in Strathaven was sold along with its contents of show business memorabilia in 1966. One keen buyer was fellow Scottish comic actor and singer, Jimmy Logan, who bought these walking sticks. His admiration of Lauder extended to creating a one-man musical called 'Lauder' in 1976 to commemorate the life of his hero.