'The Phenakistiscope (sic) or Living Picture'. Published by W Soffe, Strand. One of eight hand coloured lithographic designs on 180mm diameter cards; man with double bass.
A Phenakistoscope disc, published by W Soffe in London, c.1830s.
The Phenakistoscope disc shows a man with a double bass and a Cossack dancer. The Phenakistoscope was invented in 1833 by the Belgian physicist Joseph Plateau (1801-1883). It is held with the printed side of the disc facing a mirror. The disc is spun and the viewer looks at its reflection through the slits on the disc's circumference: the drawings appear to move.
The disc could also be placed on the base of a Zoetrope and viewed through the slits on the Zoetrope's circumference as it is spun.
Details
- Category:
- Cinematography
- Collection:
- Kodak Collection
- Object Number:
- 1990-5036/7180/6
- Measurements:
-
overall: 180 mm,
- type:
- phenakistoscope
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- toy - recreational artefact
- optical toy
- credit:
- The Kodak Collection at the National Media Museum, Bradford
