Glorpy is a magic trick. A silk

Silk

Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...

 pocket handkerchief

Handkerchief

A handkerchief , also called a handkercher or hanky, is a form of a kerchief, typically a hemmed square of thin fabric that can be carried in the pocket or purse, and which is intended for personal hygiene purposes such as wiping one's hands or face, or blowing one's nose...

  is laid down on a table

Table (furniture)

A table is a form of furniture with a flat and satisfactory horizontal upper surface used to support objects of interest, for storage, show, and/or manipulation...

 and folded. Then, it moves as if there is some sort of object inside the folds. It can appear to respond to or interact with the magician or the spectators.

Usually, the effect is that a small ghost

Ghost

In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...

 shows its presence by coming to life under the handkerchief

Handkerchief

A handkerchief , also called a handkercher or hanky, is a form of a kerchief, typically a hemmed square of thin fabric that can be carried in the pocket or purse, and which is intended for personal hygiene purposes such as wiping one's hands or face, or blowing one's nose...

, lifting it and making it dance

Dance

Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....

 around. This effect is also used in demonstrations of spirit writing when shown in a seance

Séance

A séance is an attempt to communicate with spirits. The word "séance" comes from the French word for "seat," "session" or "sitting," from the Old French "seoir," "to sit." In French, the word's meaning is quite general: one may, for example, speak of "une séance de cinéma"...

 or mentalism

Mentalism

Mentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists, appear to demonstrate highly developed mental or intuitive abilities. Performances may appear to include telepathy, clairvoyance, divination, precognition, psychokinesis, mediumship, mind control, memory feats and rapid...

context.

Glorpy was created by Madblood Creations (Bill Madden and Bernie Trueblood) circa 1960. It was declared the "Trick of the Millennium" by Genii, the conjurer's magazine.

Method

To perform the trick, a wire piece is inserted into the hem of the handkerchief, taking up one corner. When it is folded in a certain way (depending on where the handkerchief is to rise), the magician grips the wire and turns it to make it rise and fall. A more subtle way is to make a kink in the wire such that the wire will turn when that portion is pressed down.