This Magic Ball and Vase trick was invented over 100 years ago and was first made in boxwood. The surviving vases are now collectors item. The plastic version that you can find in most magic shops, however, works just as well. The "instructions" that accompany this trick are usually terrible, so it is a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to write some proper instructions so that you may learn and enjoy performing this wonderful trick.
The Apparatus
The Ball and Vase comes in four parts that fit together. It consist of the lid, a half ball shell which has an extra rim around it that matches the colour of the lid and base, a plastic ball, and the base (1).
The basic function of the apparatus is the option that it gives you either to show the vase empty or to show that it contains a ball - even though the ball has been openly removed. To acquaint yourself with this function, first take out the ball and reassemble the other three parts. To show that the vase contains a ball, lift the lid by gripping the pointed top. This shows a ball in the vase. You are actually seeing the top of the half-ball shell. Put the lid back on. This time lift the lid and the half-ball shell together by gripping the vase by its side. The vase is now shown empty.
What You Do
Assemble all four parts together (2). Pick up the vase in your left hand and with your right hand lift off the top and the half-ball section to display the real ball (3). Tip the ball out onto the table (4). Put the top and shell back on top of the base and set it down on the table.
Pick up the ball and put it in the top pocket of your jacket (5). Say that you will make the ball disappear from your pocket and reappear inside the vase again. Make a few "magic passes" (6) - then reach across and lift off the lid by its pointed tip.
The "ball" is back in the vase (7)! They really see only the shell. Put the lid back on (8).
Say that you will make the ball disappear from the vase and reappear back in your pocket. Magic some more magic passes (9) - utter a few magic words - then lift off the top of the vase by its side to show that it is empty (10). Reach into your top pocket to remove the ball (11) or, better still, get a spectator to do it for you!
Afterthoughs
While the spectator is removing the ball from your top pocket, you can palm off the shell and secretly drop it into your pocket. If I'm sitting at a table, I will just let the shell drop unseen onto my lap! Tha vase can now by passed out for minute examination and your "secret" will be intact. In the hands of sleight-of-hand expert this trick can take on almost miraculous proportions. Please play about with the apparatus. See how you can improve your performance of the trick by doing a Voodoo Vanish of the ball
Another variation is to have the ball secretly concealed in your left fingers. Pick up the vase with the same hand. With your right hand lift off the lid by its pointed top to show that the ball is inside. Put the top back on. Give the vase a squeeze with your left hand and then let the palmed ball drop onto the table. Lift off the lid (this time by its sides) to show that the vase is now empty. The ball has apparently penetrated through the vase!
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