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History of Science Museum

Single Slipping Slide: Contortionist Clown, c. 1880

Inventory Number 66552


Acknowledgement: © History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, inv.66552

Item type
Object
Provenance
In wooden box marked in chalk: 'ASTRO ATY'.
Physical material
Wood
Glass
Paint
Metal
Dimensions
Height: 178mm Width: 100mm Depth: 10mm Weight: 88g
Inventory No
66552

Description

Wood-framed glass sliding-type lantern slide. The back plate depicts a clown in a contortionist position. The front glass plate is partially blacked out with paint but when pulled to the right, the image alters so that the clown's head, with a face that has changed from happy to sad, has been removed from her neck and sits on top of her feet.