Rice, Orange and Checkers - Owen Magic Supreme - Joe Stevens Estate - Very Good Condition
Availability: In stock
Collection: All Products, Antiques/Estate, Exclusives, Parlor Magic, Stage Magic, Stevens Estate, Tricks
Rice, Orange and Checkers was one of those classic effects that "stuck" in the hearts and minds of both magicians and audience members. The effect was reproduced by many different craftsman from Mak Magic to PROline and others. In fact the inclusion of checkers (which in magic terms were much larger in circumference than what the normal person assumes when he hears the word checker, we used by Okito and Thayer in their famous checker cabinets.
This particular model was crafted by Owen Magic who's last location was in AZUSA (Los Angeles, CA). A little fun fact Azuza got it's name from "A to Z." Owen magic was the closet thing to a dynasty in magic we ever had. Other than their elaborate catalog they scarcely attended magic trade shows. Prior to that they had locations at 344 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles 13, California where they were listed as Owen Brother, Manufactures. And also 1240 S. Chapel Ave, Alhambra CA. 91801, where they were listed as Owen Magic Supreme.
One thing for sure Owen Magic had that "it" factor years after taking over Thayer Magic and there is so much more to the story.
As a young boy every few years in the summer Les and Gertrude Smith would drive down to my parents house in Wichita, KS and spent a couple weeks. In fact Les helped build a hangman's gallows when my parents Joe and Martha put on the 1977 Conclave which had an incredible line up which included a young David Copperfield, Fred Kaps, Flip and other close up notables. Okay, enough with the history.
Effect: A quantity of rice, an orange, and a stack of checkers initiated a transposition in between a spun aluminum vase, and two ornately different colored metal cannisters. With shells and solid checkers.
The metal containers in addition to being different colored so they could be easily differed between the other also contained ornate Asian inspired transfers.
Specs: The Aluminum vase stands 11" Tall and each cannister is approx. 8" tall when resting on the canisters. Comes with the following instructions: No. #911 - Rice, Orange and Checkers. Cat. #813 Rice, Orange and Checkers and #814 - The Rice Vase.
Condition: These are always tricky to answer when you have several pieces that make up one effect. In the case of the cannisters and checkers are in VERY FINE condition. Look at the brilliant colors of all of them. It is the Rice Vase that keeps me from listing the entire piece as Fine because the rice vase does have a small indention on one of the sides and the aluminum has a dull patina and a scrape line at the top. However on the up side, the bottom of the vase is hall marked "OWEN." Where the other older set that we have from Owen, does "not" have the hallmark on the bottom of the vase. If I had the time I would polish the vase to bring as much luster as possible form it. But my goodness - look at how rich those cannisters and checkers are.
