Antique Victorian Magic Lantern With Slides. 19th Century.
SOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom
£195 per item
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Item details
Height
36.0 cm
Width
29.0 cm
Depth
17.7 cm
Wear conditions
Excellent
Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.
Good
May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.
Average
Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.
Apparent Wear and Tear
Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.
Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.
Description
A Victorian Magic Lantern used for projecting glass slides and made from mahogany, brass, glass and leather and including a small set of slides.
This item is a decorative curiosity but could possibly be functional if required, please see the detail below.
Starting from the rear we see that the original burner has been replaced with a bulb and reflector mechanism, a cleaner and more effective light source. In front of this sits the lens, a large hand ground convex piece of glass. The bellows and brass lens slide forwards and backwards as required and the bellows appear to be in good condition without splits. In front of the lens is the mahogany slide changer as detailed below, this contains three slides which are included in the sale.
The innovative 'Eclipse' design slide changer from R.R. Beard, of Fort Road, Bermondsey, England, was patented in 1886. Each slide could be pushed in front of the previous one before the latter was removed. This meant the slide was out of focus for a short while for the duration of the slide changeover. The carrier also allowed a 'dissolving' effect to be produced with just one lantern.
This is a wonderful, perhaps quirky, item, a great talking point and interior design piece, manufactured of the best materials and to the highest standards. The lantern is untested, the fine focus mechanism on the lens does not function.
The magic lantern, also known by its Latin name Lanterna Magica, was an early type of image projector that used pictures—paintings, prints, or photographs—on transparent plates (usually made of glass), one or more lenses, and a light source. Because a single lens inverts an image projected through it (as in the phenomenon which inverts the image of a camera obscura), slides were inserted upside down in the magic lantern, rendering the projected image correctly oriented. It was mostly developed in the 17th century and commonly used for entertainment purposes. It was increasingly used for education during the 19th century. Since the late 19th century, smaller versions were also mass-produced as toys. The Magic Lantern was in wide use from the 18th century until the mid-20th century.
The lantern measures 29 x 17.7 x 36cm (11.42" x 6.97" x 14.17") when closed.
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Free collection available
Yes
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- Selling at Vinterior since 2023
- 22 sales
- Ships from SOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom
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Cancellations and Returns
Last updated: 24th March 2025
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