The Art of Puzzles
Artist Profile – Kagen Sound
Loop Box
agen Sound (formerly Kagen Schaeffer) is a wonder worker. As many of you know, I collect Japanese puzzle boxes. These amazing devices are works of art made out of gorgeous woods and each has a hidden compartment which can only be accessed if one knows the secret. Some boxes are impossibly difficult, requiring thousands of precise moves; some boxes are clever, such as sculptures of teeth that open when brushed; and all are fascinating. Kagen Sound is an American maker of puzzles, puzzles that are both beautiful and breathtaking.
Kagen’s masterpiece is his pipe organ desk. Words cannot do it justice so click on the video below.
This amazing piece of magical furniture hides over 20 secrets. Hidden spaces are accessed through secret sliding panels; and inlaid puzzle pieces, when moved into the proper designs, unlock more mysteries. Perhaps the most spectacular feature is a series of drawers which, when pushed, cause a single, different note to be played. If the operator plays the correct tune, the music to which must be discovered concealled inside the desk, the top of the desk opens and viola.
I am thrilled to say that I have just received my first Schaffer puzzle. The Lotus Box is the first of a series of three puzzles boxes, each of which revealing a secret to the opening of the others. The top is comprised of a series of concentric rings, each with an inlaid wood pattern. The operator spins the rings, creating beautiful and mesmerizing designs. Once the correct design is dialed, one of the four compartments will open.
This promises to be a beautiful piece of wonder and I look forward to sharing it in the classes and presentations on creativity and magic.
UPDATE: I am happy to announce that I have received the third, and final, in the series of the Lotus Trilogy. As per the previous, each opened drawer provides a clue to the next sequence. The final drawer of each box leads to the first drawer of the next. Each is an amazing piece and one can spend hours just playing with the various sequences independent of any desire to find the solution patterns.
Brad Henderson is an expert in things strange and unusual. His magic has been featured at events all throughout the world. Not only can he provide an evening of sophisticated, interactive entertainment, but is also available for custom presentations on a wide variety of topics related to his expertise.
For more information on Kagen and his work, visit: kagensound.com
To book Brad, email themindshow@gmail.com
Master Of Tricks
A tribute to one of the greatest magician’s you’ve never heard of.
I love “magic tricks.”
Some of the most beautiful magic “tricks” ever presented were the design and creation of a Dutch magician named Eddy Taytelbaum. Eddy is 91 years old and, during his life, produced some of the most beautiful pieces of magic ever made. Until learning of Eddy, I had never seen magic props so beautiful. Each piece was truly a work of art. Intricate Chinese lettering and gold inlays were juxtaposed with sleek modern plastic that shone like ebony. The props were more than beautiful – they were amazing! Each piece was clever and entertaining, and none of them worked the way you thought they might. I don’t know how many times I had “the hose turned on me” as Eddy’s tricks took unexpected turns. These pieces of “micro-magic” are highly coveted by magic collectors today.
I am lucky to have been able to acquire a handful of Eddy’s amazing props. While I don’t know how all of them work, I have enjoyed trying to come up with my own uses based on the information I have been able to uncover through my research. This research and exploration has taken me into many of magic’s most interesting rooms. I have been privileged to visit noted collectors of Eddy’s masterpieces, compiling stories and information regarding his mysteries. I have been amazed by the pure craftsmanship and artistic design that informs his work; I have enjoyed studying the psychology of his routines and gained an appreciation for how he combines mechanical principles with sleight of hand to produce original pieces of magic. I have become a better performer by facing the unique challenges of presenting prop-based magic in sophisticated performance environments. I feel honored to be able to feature one of Eddy’s pieces in my close-up magic shows.
If you would like to learn more about Eddy Taytelbaum and his amazing magical creations, please see the full article at the Conjuring Arts Research Center.
If you would like to see some of Eddy’s rare and beautiful magic – up close and in person – check out The Soiree show. It’s an amazing evening for you and a few of your best friends. To reserve dates, contact me.
Master Of Tricks
A tribute to one of the greatest magician’s you’ve never heard of.
I love “magic tricks.”
Some of the most beautiful magic “tricks” ever presented were the design and creation of a Dutch magician named Eddy Taytelbaum. Eddy is 91 years old and, during his life, produced some of the most beautiful pieces of magic ever made. Until learning of Eddy, I had never seen magic props so beautiful. Each piece was truly a work of art. Intricate Chinese lettering and gold inlays were juxtaposed with sleek modern plastic that shone like ebony. The props were more than beautiful – they were amazing! Each piece was clever and entertaining, and none of them worked the way you thought they might. I don’t know how many times I had “the hose turned on me” as Eddy’s tricks took unexpected turns. These pieces of “micro-magic” are highly coveted by magic collectors today.
I am lucky to have been able to acquire a handful of Eddy’s amazing props. While I don’t know how all of them work, I have enjoyed trying to come up with my own uses based on the information I have been able to uncover through my research. This research and exploration has taken me into many of magic’s most interesting rooms. I have been privileged to visit noted collectors of Eddy’s masterpieces, compiling stories and information regarding his mysteries. I have been amazed by the pure craftsmanship and artistic design that informs his work; I have enjoyed studying the psychology of his routines and gained an appreciation for how he combines mechanical principles with sleight of hand to produce original pieces of magic. I have become a better performer by facing the unique challenges of presenting prop-based magic in sophisticated performance environments. I feel honored to be able to feature one of Eddy’s pieces in my close-up magic shows.
If you would like to learn more about Eddy Taytelbaum and his amazing magical creations, please see the full article at the Conjuring Arts Research Center.
If you would like to see some of Eddy’s rare and beautiful magic – up close and in person – check out The Soiree show. It’s an amazing evening for you and a few of your best friends. To reserve dates, contact me.
The Oldest Trick in the Book
OK, one of the oldest.
While most people think of magic as a form of variety entertainment specializing in the presentation of seeming impossibilities with the intention of conveying a sense of wonder and awe to the engaged public, the magician’s craft has not always been employed solely for the creation of agreeable illusions with the goal of entertainment or diversion. We are, of course, aware that con men and con artists expertly employ sleight of hand in order to swindle their marks from their money. Equally, we are not surprised to learn that some fraudulent psychics employ secret means of gaining information in order to dupe their sitters. But few are aware just how far back in history the magician’s craft been employed to deceive beyond the ends of entertainment; one of the oldest magic tricks might surprise you.
The oldest magic trick?
Pneumatica is a book of inventions attributed to Heron of Alexandria (10-70 CE)¹. Heron was the inventor of the steam engine—using it to power a small toy. He also invented the first vending machine. His amazing tome reveals mechanical wonders that many today would still find breathtaking. Many of the “tricks” described in Pneumatica were built into temples and used to convince the masses that gods were present. Temple doors open by supernatural hands. Statues poured wine when commanded. One could even hear the hisses of mystical beings whispering in mysterious tongues as if they were standing beside you.
Among magicians, perhaps the most celebrated of these illusions is Heron’s Horse. The horse was a statue presented next to a figure of a swordsman. Upon operation, the mechanical swordsman would turn and cleave a solid sword through the neck of this wondrous beast. The horse’s head would somehow remain safely in place. As a kicker, when presented with water, the mechanical horse would drink happily from the vessel. (In the early 1900’s a small toy was made based on the mechanical principle which allows for the penetration of the sword.)
James Olsen of Owen Magic Supreme in Asuza, California, took upon himself the daunting task of recreating Heron’s Horse. This model, without the swordsman, sits atop a beautiful ebony base. This time the performer, bearing the sword, cleaves through the neck. Not only will the horse drink water from a dish as in the original; but, for comedic effect, he proceeds to pass the water, in the traditional manner. Only a handful of the Owen model horses were cast. One is in the collection of Richard Garriott and was featured in a Martha Stewart Show segment on automata.
A recent television series did an episode on some of Heron’s creations. See it here:
Brad Henderson made a special appearance at the world’s first convention for automata and automata enthusiasts. Collectors, historians, artists and artisans from all over the world came to Morristown, NJ, to share a weekend exploring their passions for automata and mechanical art. Brad performed sleight of hand magic for the opening night reception at the Morris Museum which features the legendary Guinness Collection of Automata.
For more information on the automata convention, visit: automatacon.org
You can read a translation of Heron’s book, Pneumatica here.
¹Sometimes referred to as Hero of Alexandria.
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