Black Art

108 entries in Black Art
For card specific applications, see Cards & Black Art.
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
Die verschwindende Dame "Eins-Zwei-Drei", person suspended on a chair behind a glass sheet vanishes
 		Jan. 1895
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 1 No. 1)
10
Der Blumenwürfel large die on newspaper covered with handkerchief, it changes into flowers (or something else) when cloth is removed
 		Aug. 1895
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 1 No. 8)
114
Carl Willmann Das Verschwinden einer Person in front of a door in living room performances
 		Aug. 1895
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 1 No. 8)
125
Friedrich W. Conradi-Horster Die schwarze Kunst on black art on stage, Charles Arbé (alia Carl Baum) credited
Related to
 Jan. 1896
Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 1 No. 5)
75
Friedrich W. Conradi-Horster Die schwarze Kunst oder orientalische Zauberei continuation on black art, description of a performance without methods (see future installments for those)
Related to
 Feb. 1896
Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 1 No. 6)
87
Die schwarze Kunst oder orientalische Zauberei continuation, explanation of different vanishes, appearances, transformations with different objects
Related to
 Mar. 1896
Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 1 No. 7)
108
Die schwarze Kunst oder orientalische Zauberei continuation of black art effects, drawn skeleton comes to life
Related to
 Apr. 1896
Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 1 No. 8)
124
Die schwarze Kunst oder orientalische Zauberei further effects with the black art principle on stage
  • Die Südfrüchte
  • "Fata Morgana"/"Cocon"
  • Die Wunder der Fakire
  • "In luftigen Regionen"
Related to
 May 1896
Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 1 No. 9)
141
Die schwarze Kunst oder orientalische Zauberei further effects with the black art principle on stage
  • Das Geisterfass
  • Die Lotusblume
Related to
 June 1896
Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 1 No. 10)
157
Die schwarze Kunst oder orientalische Zauberei further effects with the black art principle on stage
  • das Leben einer Büste
  • "Der Geisterskat"
Related to
 July 1896
Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 1 No. 11)
170
The Spirit Envelope three selections, slip of paper with their names appears in previously empty envelope
Variations
 1897
New Era Card Tricks
173
Das unerklärliche Verschwinden eines lebenden Pferdes samt Stallknecht "Die schwarze Kunst oder orientalische Zauberei"
horse and person vanish
 		Feb. 1897
Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 2 No. 6)
89
Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft "Boscos Zauberwürfel, Alea jacta est, der in freier Hand verschwindende Würfel"
die block penetrates hat, plate and table, vanishes on glass disc or newspaper, another vanishes in the hands
Related to
 Nov. 1897
Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 3 No. 5)
69
Ferdinand Hügelin Der mysteriöse Zahnarzt "Ein Scherz", performer rips out a front tooth and puts it back in, black strip of paper and horse tooth, see also p. 176
 		Apr. 1898
Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 3 No. 10)
160
Das mysteriöse Loch im Taschentuch hole apparently cut into borrowed handkerchief, one can see the performer's sleeve through the hole, restored
 		May 1898
Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 3 No. 11)
169
Josef Löffler Der wandernde Thaler coin with black back and hook, vanished and ditched by hanging it on the clothing, borrowed coin vanishes and reappears
 		Apr. 1899
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 5 No. 4)
54
Carl Willmann Willmann's Miniatur-Bühne backdrop construction to put onto impromptu stages
 		July 1899
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 5 No. 7)
106
Carl Willmann Briefkasten answering letters
 		July 1900
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 6 No. 7)
112
Max Auzinger, Carl Willmann Aus und mit dem Leserkreise black art credit claim/information
 		Dec. 1900
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 6 No. 12)
192
Carl Willmann Briefkasten answering letters, credit information on black art
 		May 1901
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 7 No. 5)
80
Carl Willmann Entstehen und Vergehen production balls, black back for black art vanish
 		May 1903
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 9 No. 5)
72
Das mysteriöse Couvert envelope hangs on stage, answers to questions appear inside, switch on tray, black art
 		Nov. 1904
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 10 No. 11)
172
Friedrich W. Conradi-Horster Conradis neuer Kartenstern "new card star", using black art to hide the hiding place, five cards appear at end of star apparatus
Inspired by
 May 1904
Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 4 No. 5)
72
The Coin Through the Hat using black-backed coin, black art
 		1909
The Art of Magic
267
Louis F. Christianer The Wandering Card and Envelope signed empty envelope placed on easel, selected card travels inside envelope, black art gaff
 		1916
More Effective Tricks
33
Frederick F. Furman The Domino Case domino vanish from paper box with drawer
 		1919
Domino Deceptions
4
Friedrich "Fritz" Hügli Eine spiritistische Antwort questions are written on pieces of paper, one is chosen and answer appears inside envelope, newspaper black art
 		1927
Leichte Zauberei
94
Lu Brent Watch - Ho!! Pocket watch manipulation routine, production of pocket watches, uses black art stand, glove gimmick
 		1932
Novel Magic
29
Ivor Smith Various Routines 2 Uses a black art table and a tri-color thimble and has a lemon production
 		1936
Thimble Magic
33
Paul Studham, Laurie Ireland The Spirit Bar bar with bottles on table, drinks are wished and mixed by spirits, black art principle
 		1940
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1940)
7
U. F. Grant U. F. Grant's Stage Rope Restoration black art, black tube on rope looks like rope is cut
 		1941 ca.
Abbott's Encyclopedia of Rope Tricks
200
U. F. Grant U. F. Grant's Amazing Rope Trick black art method, in front of body
 		1941 ca.
Abbott's Encyclopedia of Rope Tricks
371
Syl Reilly A Ghost Show Routine black art, luminous paint, skeletons appear and dance
 		1943
Tarbell Course in Magic — Volume 3
412
Black-Art Switch using servante in table
 		1943
25 Methods for Switching Decks
14
Howard D. Wise A New "Find the Lady" Illusion with board, black art and shell
 		1945
My Best
150
Eugene Gloye Build It Yourself Nest of Boxes parcel, with a watch
 		1952
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1952)
14
Judge E. H. C. Wethered Black Art Tray
1954
Tarbell Course in Magic — Volume 6
329
J. A. Philpot Magic Beer Production with tubes, black art
 		1956
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1956)
41
J. W. Sarles Transit Silks three silks vanish behind screen, reappear knotted on wand when it is tossed in air, black art
 		Nov. 1968
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 4 No. 1)
215
The Phantom Black Art Platform
1972
Tarbell Course in Magic — Volume 7
324
Theo "Okito" Bamberg, Joe Berg Zombie Cabinet cabinet for Zombie ball, ball vanishes eventually or changes into a skull
 		1973
The Oriental Magic of the Bambergs
87
Theo "Okito" Bamberg, David Tobias Bamberg Checker Cabinet box with three doors, pile of checkers placed under a tube and a glass with a handkerchief into the box, transposition
Variations
 1973
The Oriental Magic of the Bambergs
127
Karl Fulves* Launch Pad on building black art possibilities into close-up pad
Related to
 1975
Interlocutor (Issue 4)
11
Jan Torell A Giant Card to Silk card to silk, then more handkerchiefs and cards are produced
Variations
 1975
Magic by Jan Torell
13
Oswald Williams Die Flyto handkerchief in a box transposes with big die on a tray, visible transformation of die into handkerchief
 		1976
Classic Magic with Apparatus
26
, Carl Owen Ultimate Drawer Box
1976
Classic Magic with Apparatus
118
Floyd G. Thayer Expanding Ball ball visibly expands, on a stand
 		1976
Classic Magic with Apparatus
206
Philip T. Goldstein* Severence Pay-Off rope cut in paper tube, black art
Also published here
 1982
shuffled lecture
7
Checker Cabinet variations of Okito's Checker Cabinet, Thayer, Owen, Hamilton, Resor, Hughes, Loring Campbell
Inspired by
 1982
Further Classic Magic With Apparatus
48
Mark Lefler Back in the Box copper coins vanish visually under glass and reappear in okito box, then change to silver, using black art
 		June 1983
Apocalypse (Vol. 6 No. 6)
785
Stephen Minch Mindcast written on six pieces of paper, non-forcing method
 		1984
Mind Melds
9
Philip T. Goldstein* Severence Pay-Off rope cut in paper tube, black art
Also published here
 1990
NYCANOTES
2
Jim Steinmeyer The Artist's Daydream person appears in black cabinet with easel look
Inspired by
  • "The Artist's Dream"
 1991
Device and Illusion
43
Harlan Tarbell "Society Special" Black Art Table
1993
Tarbell Course in Magic — Volume 8
262
John Moehring Black Artistry on Omar Pasha
Related to
 May 1997
MAGIC (Vol. 6 No. 9)
56
John Moehring First Black Artifice on black art
 		May 1997
MAGIC (Vol. 6 No. 9)
59
Dondrake The Early Years History of black art
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
5
Dondrake BlackArt in the Parlor More history on black art
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
6
Dondrake Build a Wizard's Window Black art background
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
7
Dondrake Building a BlackArt Backdrop Black art curtains
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
12
Dondrake Using the Right Material
1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
14
Dondrake BlackArt Lighting How to do lighting on stage for black art illusions
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
15
Dondrake The Wizard's Curtain Three different ways to set up a stage for black art illusions
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
16
Dondrake The BlackArt Table
1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
19
Dondrake BlackArt Well Table
1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
20
Dondrake Wizard's Table
1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
21
Dondrake The Flying Carpet Magicians levitates while sitting on flying carpet
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
24
Dondrake The Hindu Rope Trick Rope levitates out of basket, boy climbs up, disappears in smoke, rope falls down
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
25
Dondrake Fantasy Dove Cardboard dove visually changes into real dove in full view
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
26
Dondrake Floating Into and Out of the Body Girl levitates, gets absorbed into magician's body, then comes out of his body before floating down
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
27
Dondrake Stretching Rope Rope stretches in length
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
28
Dondrake BlackArt Prediction Use black art to load prediction
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
29
Dondrake Jumbo Card Frame Three card monte with jumbo cards in a frame, using black art
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
30
Dondrake BlackArt Milk Routine Milk poured into newspaper cone, liquid vanishes
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
31
Dondrake Paper Bag Productions Produce bulky items from empty paper bag
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
32
Dondrake Darwin's BlackArt Striptease Lady's clothes slowly float away from her body one by one into a basket, then clothes in basket vanish
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
33
Gary Darwin Darwin's Missing Fingers Magician visually pulls off fingers off of gloved hand and places fingers into top hat. Glove removed, fingers pop back onto hand
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
34
Gary Darwin Darwin's Ever Loaded Hat Method to secretly load top hat
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
36
Gary Darwin Darwin's BlackArt Lota Lota vase keeps refilling indefinitely, longer than it should
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
37
Gary Darwin Darwin's Steel Rod Through Body Push steel rod through body
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
38
Gary Darwin Darwin's Exorcist Live! Woman brought on stage begins to get possessed by a demon, head floats around, body levitates etc.
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
39
Chad Sanborn The Cloned Lady Hand pulled off a lady, and then put back
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
42
The Future of Magic, Ken and James The Broken and Restored Heart Girl vanishes behind newspaper, newspaper torn and restored, girl appears again
 		1998
Black Art Breakthroughs
43
Don Alan Darker Side of Malini coin transposition using a hat, then large steel nut appears under hat
Related to
 2000
In a Class by Himself — The Legacy of Don Alan
93
Louis Haley The Disappearing Egg - Fourth Method: a Hardboiled Egg with silk, dummy under vest on thread
Also published here
  • The Sphinx, Vol. 7 No. 1, 1908, p. 5
 2002
The Encyclopedia of Egg Magic
78
Al Baker Plate-Biting Stunt biting out a piece of a dinner plate, black art
Also published here
  • marketed 1936
 2003
The Secret Ways of Al Baker (Issue Instructions)
571
Jay Sankey Black Stack eight coin production with black art displays
 		2004
Sankey Unleashed
173
Jack Avis Black Art Reference Mahatma, Vol. 1 No. 3
 		2006
Rara Avis
200
Alexander de Cova Tea Time small tea sieve for dump-out switch of any small item
Also published here
 2006
The California Lecture 2006
9
Paul Osborne Black Art Mini Theater
  • Osborne Illusions
black art theater in puppet size
 		June 2007
Genii (Vol. 70 No. 6)
22
Alexander de Cova Teatime small tea sieve for dump-out switch of any small item
Also published here
 2007
Seminar 2007
2
Tom Stone Tie Clipper black art idea for cut and restored tie
 		2007
Plots, Spells & Typos
8
Eddy Ray Broken & Restored CD CD is visually broken and restored
 		2007
Broken & Restored CD
[3]
Jim Steinmeyer The Shadow Play Solution "De-Emphasizing the Apparatus"
person appears behind large white cloth with lamp behind it
 		2009
Technique & Understanding
153
Jim Steinmeyer The Cocoon Redux "Apparatus Disguised as No Apparatus"
person appears in light-weight cloth cabinet
Inspired by
  • Buatier de Kolta's Cocoon (1887)
 2009
Technique & Understanding
165
Brett Bishop My Precious finger becomes invisible and vanishes and pushed through finger ring
Also published here
Related to
 Jan. 2009
MAGIC (Vol. 18 No. 5)
67
Tom Stone Black Drop black art, vanish of small object
Also published here
 2010
Vortex
206
Tom Stone Black Drop black art, vanish of small object
Also published here
 2010
Benson Burner
10
Alexander de Cova Riesenmünzen-Finte black art jumbo coin
 		2011
Seminar-Leviten
11
Pete McCabe Schrödinger's Coin coin held between thumb and first finger, vanishes when hand is turn over to show other side, appears again, then is really gone
 		Jan. 2012
Genii (Vol. 75 No. 1)
31
John Hostler* Convoid flap in middle of bill is opened and closed again
Related to
 2016
Magnum Opossum
123
Axel Adlercreutz Ourobouros vacuum cleaner sucks itself up until it has vanishes
 		Nov. 2016
Genii (Vol. 79 No. 11)
88
Alexander de Cova Teatime small tea sieve for dump-out switch of any small item
  • Anwendungsmöglichkeiten
Also published here
 2016
Burners — Vol. 4
180
Martin Lewis The Grail Stand stand to switch deck
 		Mar. 2016
MAGIC (Vol. 25 No. 7)
72
José Carroll* Blackbacked Card invisible through transparent sheet
 		2019
52 Lovers — Through the Looking-Glass
179
Nathan Kranzo Porn Name Correctly predict an audience's porn name, prediction written on paper ball thrown into crowd
 		2021
Kranzilla Unleashed
40
Brett Bishop My Precious finger becomes invisible and vanishes and pushed through finger ring
Also published here
Related to
 2022
Talk About Tricks (Issue 2)
819
Dr. Matt Pritchard The Nauseous Limit
  • Workshop
"An illusion with a built-in somersault"
small toy elephant is in tube made from paper with many holes like a net, it uncurls flat and elephant is gone
Inspired by
  • Dizzy Limit illusion (Oswald Williams)
 Dec. 2025
Genii (Vol. 88 No. 12)
80