Ionia L'Inspiration Magic Poster c.1910 Moody Bros
Buy this print on Etsy →A jewel of the golden age of magic, this striking poster of about 1910-1911 advertises Ionia, "The Goddess of Mystery," one of the most celebrated illusionists of the early twentieth century. Titled "L'Inspiration," the lithograph frames its scene in a shimmering mosaic border of deep green and gold that recalls stained glass and Byzantine tilework. Within it, a dramatically robed figure in flowing crimson looms over a seated young woman in a bejeweled costume, moonlit ruins and a balustrade receding behind them, a theatrical tableau of enchantment and revelation. It was printed by the renowned Moody Bros. workshops of Birmingham, whose imprint appears at lower right.
Ionia was the stage name of Clementine de Vere (1888-1973), a British magician and performer considered by many to be the most influential female illusionist of her era. Her lavish act was conceived by her father, the magician Charles de Vere, in 1909 and debuted in September 1910 in Marseille. It was a spectacle on a grand scale: the production reportedly required some six tons of equipment along with elaborate Egyptian-inspired costumes for Ionia and her assistants, with wardrobe by Llandorf and music by Gaston Robichon. Marketed as a beautiful sorceress and "enchantress," Ionia toured to great acclaim, and her image, more than the mechanics of her tricks, became her signature.
The Moody Bros. of Birmingham produced a legendary suite of posters for Ionia, said to number around twenty-two designs, of which only a small handful survive today. Collectors and specialists rank them among the finest lithographs of the entire golden age of magic, prized for their sumptuous color, romantic Symbolist imagery, and superb printing. Surviving examples are rare and eagerly sought, making this dramatic "L'Inspiration" design a genuine treasure for admirers of theatrical and conjuring history. Its blend of Art Nouveau ornament, moonlit mystery, and operatic staging captures the spellbinding allure that made the Ionia name unforgettable.
Our reproduction is printed on museum-grade 189gsm archival matte paper using fade-resistant pigment inks, faithfully rendering the glowing golden lettering, the mosaic border, and the deep jewel tones of the original stone lithograph. It is available in five sizes and ships rolled in a protective tube. 🆓 ✈️ Free US shipping on this item.
This enchanting print casts a spell over a living room, library, theatre room, bar, or bedroom, and is a natural centerpiece for lovers of vintage magic, stage history, and the mystique of the fin de siecle. Its rich reds and greens frame beautifully in gold, black, or dark wood, and it pairs wonderfully with velvet, brass, and other antique-inspired decor. Its upright, poster-scale format makes a dramatic focal point above a sofa, bed, or mantel, and clustered with other vintage magic, circus, or theatre lithographs it forms an atmospheric, storybook gallery wall. The saturated palette flatters candlelight and warm bulbs alike, giving evening rooms a sumptuous, curtain-up glow. A memorable gift for magicians, collectors of theatrical and circus ephemera, fans of Art Nouveau and Symbolist imagery, and anyone captivated by the romance of old-world illusion, it brings a touch of moonlit enchantment to any wall. Few advertising images from the era conjure the wonder of live magic so completely, and to display this rare Ionia design is to keep a genuine legend of the stage under your own spell.
