This delightful curiosity is a Praxinoscope—a beautiful reproduction of the amazing invention of Frenchman Emile Reynaud, which he patented in 1877.
How does the Praxinoscope work? Quite simply:
It transforms static images into a moving sequence, thanks to retinal persistence. A circular drum is rotated, the mirrors in the center of which reflect images drawn on strips of paper placed around them. The spectator looks over the instrument and can thus observe an animation of a clear sequence, in which the images merge and the elements come to life.
Emile Reynaud's invention made it possible to eliminate the distortion of the vision of moving images caused by the insufficient light received by the images of the Praxinoscope's predecessor: the Zoetrope.
This optical object consists of a solid metal base, on which the drum with the 12 mirrors that produce the optical illusion, thanks to the reflection of the images, rotates in a smooth and balanced way.
- Includes 20 interchangeable animated picture strips.
- Dimensions: 7.8" x 8.6"
