Mutilated Parasol

Mutilated Parasol (or Mutilated Sunshade) is a version of the Parasol Trick.

Kanter's Magic Shop Catalog circa 1939

The effect, as described in The Modern Conjurer (1902): A borrowed handkerchief is given to a lady to hold, and changes in her hand to a long strip which is then given to a gentleman to squeeze, and on being returned is found to be torn into small pieces. These are dropped into a paper bag made before the audience from a sheet of foolscap, and given to someone to hold. A sheet of brown paper is now unrolled, a parasol taken out, and the paper shown empty. The parasol is rolled up again, the end being left all the time in view. The gentleman who holds the bag in his hand is now asked to take the wrapped-up parasol upon his lap. At his word of command the pieces leave the bag, which on being opened is found to contain the cover of the parasol in their place. The parasol is then taken out of the brown paper, and is found to consist of bare framework only, with one of the small pieces of handkerchief dangling from the end of each rib. The cover is put on to the frame, and the parasol replaced in the brown paper. When unrolled a moment later it is quite restored, with the borrowed handkerchief inside it.

John Henry Anderson was performing the effect as "The Miraculous Umbrella" in the early 1840s in London. It was also performed Clement de Lion, Ellen Armstrong and Ionia.

A very popular version at the time was created by Lewis Davenport which premiered in 1916 in London.