How do you cage a bird? With a thaumatrope, an optical toy that binds a disc to lengths of string. Illustrated on each side of the disc are distinct images that become one when you pull the string and the thaumatrope spins. The first known thaumatrope was invented by John Ayrton Paris in 1824, when he used it to demonstrate his theory of ‘persistence of vision’ to London’s Royal College of Physicians.
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Collection
Not in ACMI's collection
On display until
16 February 2031
ACMI: Gallery 1
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
Curatorial section
The Story of the Moving Image → Moving Pictures → MI-02. Play and Illusion → MI-02-C02