Le Praxinoscope

Praxinoscope or wheel of life on turned wooden stand with metal drum; with lampshade. (Also candlestick, not seen during Audit)

Invented by the French artist, Emile Reynaud (1844-1918) in 1877, the Praxinoscope is a simple scientific toy that makes still pictures come to life. It does not project light - it reflects it. The lamp is surrounded by a ring of pictures, showing an object at different stages of movement. The pictures face inwards, and opposite each one is a mirror. By turning a handle, the ring of pictures revolve and, if made to revolve fast enough, the separate reflections in each mirror appear to merge, giving the appearance of movement.

Details

Category:
Cinematography
Object Number:
1916-327/1
Materials:
wood (unidentified), metal (unknown), mirror-glass (silvered) and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
Measurements:
overall: 255 mm 215 mm,
type:
optical toy and praxinoscope
credit:
The National Media Museum, Bradford