Owen Rice, Grapefruit and Checkers

A number of stacked of wooden checkers are covered with a decorative canister, an orange is placed under a second canister, and a beautiful spun vase is filled with rice. Upon the magician’s command

Classic wood turned vase that will vanish a quantity of rice or transform it into an orange (as in the “Orange, Rice and Checkers” Mystery.) Gold, gesso finish. Turned by Floyd Thayer, circa 1930.

William “Doc” Nixon’s version of the Okito Checker Cabinet. Handmade by Nixon, circa 1930. Large, highly-decorated cabinet for transposition of a stack of checkers, and glass of rice. Appears to

Rice, Orange and Checkers. Los Angeles: Thayer, ca. 1945. An orange, a quantity of rice, and a stack of checkers magically transpose under two lacquered covers and a handsome metal rice vase. Vase 12

Blue Phantom. Asuza: Owen Magic, ca. 1980s. A blue checker stacked among gold-colored checkers mysteriously travels to a different position when covered by the genie tube. 17 ½” tall. Very good.

Okito Checker Cabinet. Las Vegas: Okito-Nielsen, ca. 2000. Club size (overall approx. 20 x 14 x 6") cabinet for the magical transposition of a stack of checkers and a glass full of rice. Including all

Paul Fox Checker Cabinet. Circa 1940. Completed by Jeff Busby, ca. 1990. Checkers and a glass filled with rice transpose between a decorative cover and three compartments in a wooden cabinet. Lacquere

Loring Checker Cabinet. Oklahoma: Haenchen & Co., ca. 1950. A glass full of rice transposes positions with a stack of checkers under a metal cover and in a fancy wooden cabinet. Cabinet 12" wide. With

A blue disc moves mysteriously up and down a stack of yellow checkers when covered by a chrome plated tube. Originally designed by Carl Owen from an effect in “das Wunderbuch. Condition: Very Good,

A small glass-fronted box is filled with rice atop a tray. Visibly, the rice vanishes and all pieces may be shown. This is the Owen version of Thayer’s “Chest of Chu Chin Chow.” Circa 1960. Cond

Three antique metal cones. One of the cones is gimmicks to accommodate a load. Maybe rice and orange cones? Condition as seen in photo.

Two specially-prepared, yet innocent-appearing coffee cups cause liquid to appear and then multiply. May also be used for the classic Rice Bowls effect and other routines explained in the instructions

Set of small (3 ½” x 2”) bowls made of sterling silver by renowned silversmiths, Reed and Barton. Most likely originally nut bowls, a clear disc had been crafted to perform the classic version of

Two heavy white china bowls become filled with rice, then water. Gimmick lacking, but easily replaced. Condition: Fine.

Vase used to change rice or bran into a small object or animal.

Two heavy white china bowls become filled with rice, then water. Gimmick lacking, but easily replaced. Condition: Fine.

Classic Rice Bowls c. 1950 with new clear disc. White enameled interior. Condition: Very Good.

Ornately decorated Asian-themed center table as used by Okito to hold his Checker Cabinet mystery in-performance. Made by Norm Nielsen in Okito-style and decorated with rare transfer decals. Folds fla

Created by Lester Lake and sold by Abbott in the 1940’s, this is a rare version of a checker cabinet. The blocks will magically travel from the smaller box to the larger box which is in the shape of

A lovely French automaton believed to be from Jean Farkas (1917-2014). With his wife Anne, who was a seamstress and created the costumes, they created and repaired automata. In 1974 they moved from Pa

McIlhany had this custom made after seeing Ken Klosterman’s Hofzinser Card Rise that Charles Kalish had copied from the original in the Library of Congress. This remarkable piece of apparatus was ap

A mechanical masterpiece! A spectacular reproduction of Conradi – Horster’s feast for the eyes! A true spectacle. Balls automatically disappear from the ball stand and start a “roller coaster ri

Created by Lucien Bontemps in Paris circa 1870, this is among his largest and most spectacular “singing bird” clockwork automatons. Inside the beautifully gilded and decorated 22 inch tall cage, t

This single hand Mystery Clock could be attributed to Robert-Houdin. The clock tells time with no apparent connection between the hand and the base. Robert-Houdin’s name (along with Paris) is etched