Well that got our attention. DeNomolos set the mood and as he placed antiquities on the table for our edification, he felt that it was necessary for us to have some background on the players who would grace the evening's presentation.

"Oddly enough the left eye of the statue is missing and probably just fell out. I doubt that it was of any significance any way."

One could only guess what he meant by that but that was the way he often presented things. Kept us guessing. Too often the little insignificant things are the very ploy he plays against us.

On the table now was a small metal plate with the likeness of Neffertiti inscribed on its face; an owl shaped container that appeared to be lacquer ware with gold leaf. Actually there were two of these containers; a small one about two inches tall and the larger one was about five inches tall. They resembled the canopic
jars found in the tombs. Ordinarily these jars were clay and the objects on the table appeared to be carved wood.

Alabaster containers were very popular for cosmetics and unguents. Glass was very rare in Ancient Egypt so it was treasured. Wooden cups were common but lacquer ware was something seen only in the royal tombs.

DeNomolos opened the larger owl container and removed what appeared to be a string of beads. At first examination they looked to be gold and lapis strung side by side in a strand some eighteen inches long. He placed these on the plate showing the container to be empty now.

"You have heard me state many times the importance of order in the lives and religion of the Egyptians. When order is established the order will remain for eternity. That theme is interwoven in every aspect of the ancient civilization. The pyramids are over 3,000 years old and were so well ordered that they remain one of the wonders of both the ancient and the modern world."

DeNomolos was getting wound up now and I sensed that he was about to confound our minds once again.

"As I understand the situation," he said, "the beads were found in Nefertiti's tomb and to this day, as charmingly simple as they look, they are most mysterious and still hold the essence of that unbelievably beautiful woman. They were her favorite every day jewelry and were buried with her to enjoy in the after life."

"Let me show you something remarkable."

DeNomolos picked up a pair of scissors and holding the string of bead above the opened owl container he cut the string at the bottom bead and the beads fell cascading into the wooden container. He then held the single bead that had been at the top of the strand and began to wind the string around his finger and the bead.  He deftly placed it in the container and placed the lid back on the owl.  From the small owl container he took a small piece of papyrus and mumbled some sort of a spell or incantation. Replacing the tiny scrap of papyrus in the owl box he closed his eyes and nodded several times.

As though awakening from a trance, he opened his eyes and reached for the large container, which only moments before had contained the loose beads from the necklace. Reaching into the box with but two fingers, he extracted the beads, which had magically become restrung.

He smiled, nodded again and the ritual was complete.
How did it work? Only DeNomolos knows.

Working:
One of the classics of magic sometimes known as the Beads of Karma, these inexpensive pony beads are strung on dental floss for two reasons. The strength of the floss first and second, the fact that the waxed floss makes it easy to wrap and hold the single bead, which is disposed of in a French Drop sort of move. The beads are double strung with the strand being fixed except for two beads that connect the second threading. When the bottom bead is cut away the string of beads apparently cascades into the container and you are left holding a single bead and the dangling string.  Wrapped around the finger it is palmed away while the right
hand makes a show of placing it in the container with the other loose beads.

The index finger and the second finger pick up the strand of beads and slowly display them as restored. While it has never been a problem, should some one discover the single bead left in the container it is easily dismissed as, "Oops, I missed one."

OK, it is pretty simple magic but effective with the story.  It takes time to rethread so you won't do it as walk around.

The props are one of a kind flea market finds. The flea market is one of my favorite magic shops. The beads can be found in any arts and crafts store and are cheap enough that you could give away a necklace every time you performed this piece. I wouldn't but it could be done.

In The Craft,
Ed Solomon.