Optical Toy Set
1860-1870 (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Optical toys were very popular in the 19th century. Many were used as family entertainment. They were seen to be both educational and fun, and were given scientific names, often derived from Greek. Distorted pictures were particularly fascinating, and there were several ways of drawing them. A variety of devices for viewing were produced. This one uses a curved mirror to reflect a picture that appears to make no sense. It is revealed as a woman dressed in a blue hat with a feather. She wears a brown dress with white trim and plays a flute-like instrument.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 7 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Polished metal on carved wood, with hand painting on wood |
| Brief description | Optical Toy set, anamorphic pictures with mirror, polished metal on carved wood; hand-painted wood, France, ca.1860-1870 |
| Physical description | Semicircular metal mirror on a cylindrical block of wood with a small brass handle. Six rectangular pictures hand painted onto thin pieces of wood. Each has a space marked out on it where the mirror is to be placed. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr and Mrs H. Watts |
| Summary | Optical toys were very popular in the 19th century. Many were used as family entertainment. They were seen to be both educational and fun, and were given scientific names, often derived from Greek. Distorted pictures were particularly fascinating, and there were several ways of drawing them. A variety of devices for viewing were produced. This one uses a curved mirror to reflect a picture that appears to make no sense. It is revealed as a woman dressed in a blue hat with a feather. She wears a brown dress with white trim and plays a flute-like instrument. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | MISC.36&1to6-1971 |
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| Record created | March 5, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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