Reprinted from my column "The Magic Collector Series”.

Hidden from view covered by a beautiful patterned silk is a rather large object square in appearance resting upon the magicians table top. Reaching over to the silk the magician pulls it gently away giving the audience a look at a beautiful crystal casket with vertical crystal bars at the front facing the audience. Showing the silk on both sides to be nothing more than a beautiful scarf the magician pulls it through his hands a couple of times and suddenly a beautiful white dove makes its appearance.

After the dove settles down, with his free hand the magician lifts a lid on the top of the casket as if to place the dove within but notices a fresh flower corsage resting on the bottom of the platform. A lovely female assistant appears and gestures to the corsage indicating to the magician that it belongs to her for the show. Still with the dove in hand the magician having no place to go with the dove points to a chest and beckons the assistant to bring it forward which she does. The magician is now pleased as this will be a suitable place for the dove to rest and he lifts the lid placing it within. The assistant is standing with the chest and dove within not knowing what to do next. The magician takes the silk and tosses it over the crystal casket adding more to the puzzlement of the assistant.

Taking up his magic wand from the table he gestures with it pointing first to the crystal casket and then to the chest the assistant is holding and back once more to the casket and without warning a loud report is heard and underneath the silk a bright flash is seen emanating from the crystal casket, also at the same time the assistant was so startled that the chest seemed to fly somewhat out of her grip causing the top and bottom doors to fly open. Instead of the expected dove flying loose above the heads of the audience the corsage seen a moment before in the casket is now stuck to one of the inside walls of the chest! Pleased with the results the magician reaches over and pulls the silk covering away and inside the crystal enclosure is seen the beautiful white dove!

Charles Daniel Cassini crafted this Royal Flower To Dove some time from 1976 to 1978 and made use of electronics in the mechanism so as to give the magician freedom from off stage helpers to accomplish the magic with proper timing. The timing is left solely up to the discretion of the magician as it is he that triggers the percussion which activates the sonic switch within that activates the whole process, excluding the nervous assistant and the classic Gwynne Tip Over Chest.

Mr. Cassini operated as Cassini Magic Creations with a sub header of Precision Crafted Magic for the discriminating and when you see print advertising it is almost always certain the caption Elegance In Magic will stand out and rightfully so as so much of what Cassini crafted had every appearance of high quality presented in a classy and elegant manner. The Royal Flower To Dove is no exception as finishing touches throughout are evident upon close inspection. With livestock involved in apparatus effects Cassini gave consideration to these little friends of ours and in this piece has a specially designed elastic compartment so the dove experiences no discomfort whatever and may be secretly placed well in advance of show time.

The wood base with its four legs stands only 6 inches high to the top of the platform and measures 14-1/4 inches in width and depth also having beautiful solid brass edging ornate by design adding greatly to the black lacquer finish. The crystal casket cage measures 10-3/8 inches wide x 10-3/8 inches deep x 10-3/8 inches high having removable vertical bars at the front and a top lid with brass knob hinged with ornate brass hinges toward the front. Most would have considered this enough but Cassini went to the extra work of attaching solid brass medallions of an Asian look to the center of the side pieces and, so that any one fortunate enough to handle this lovely piece could know the builder, he attached a small plaque of brass engraved "Cassini Magic Creations" a signature of pride.

We are left with the impression by Mr. Cassini, "This is a one of a kind piece" and that "One of a kind items are definitely destined to become Collectors Magic and from Cassini Magic The Limited Editions are never duplicated for any price!" I would be personally interested to hear from anyone that may have seen another as it is also my understanding that there may have been a floor model also as the instructions make mention of a step pertaining to floor model as this one is considered the table model. After the late 70s talk of Cassini Magic Creations simply went away and for the most part you would only hear people speaking of what they may have collected or are currently performing with. I don't remember seeing any notices of Mr. Cassini's passing but it could have been overlooked so if anyone has information to the contrary I would be delighted to hear from them, I might even receive a call from Mr. Cassini himself.

Flipover Chest described in article not included. The Royal Flower to Dove in very fine condition. Estimated value $950 - $1250.