The Praxinoscope is a typical optical toy from the 19th century. It consists of a cylinder and a strip of paper showing twelve frames for animation. As the cylinder rotates, stationary mirrors in the centre reveal a ‘single image’ in motion. The Praxinoscope was invented in 1876 by Charles-Émile Reynaud (1844-1918), a Paris science teacher, who marked all his examples ‘E.R.’. The toy became a great commercial success and won recognition at the great exhibitions of the period.
The Praxinoscope was awarded the Bronze Medal at the Universal Exhibition, 1889 and a Silver Medal at the 1879 Exhibition. The label reads “in the evening, place a candle on the candle holder in the center, a candle with ‘lampshade’. Fix the ends of the drawing against the bar which projects inside the crown” (loose translation)
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Collection
In ACMI's collection
On display until
16 February 2031
ACMI: Gallery 1
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
AEO175951
Curatorial section
The Story of the Moving Image → Moving Pictures → MI-02. Play and Illusion → MI-02-C02
Measurements
400 x 450 x 450mm
Object Types
3D Object
Optical Toy