Thornton’s Wonderful Watch Stand. Sedona: Signature Pieces, ca. 2005. Six pocket watches are produced at the magician’s fingertips. Each is placed in a holder at the top of an elegant stand. Then, one at a time, the watches vanish from the display and cascade down the front of the stand, clacking back-and-forth, as if walking down the rungs of a ladder. They fall into a top hat below the stand (not provided). For a finale, the performer reaches into the hat and produces a ringing alarm clock. One of fewer than 12 units manufactured. Height 71 ¼”. Minor chipping and wear from display and use, including lowermost panel and edge of one foot.Modeled on the Watch Ladder conceived and constructed by Jesse Thornton for Abbott’s Magic in the 1940s. This model, a mechanical masterpiece, is Nick Ruggiero’s version operated mechanically through a variety of coordinated mechanisms concealed in the “star” at the top of the stand and just above the glass-front ladder.