Posted 12 years ago
vetraio50
(751 items)
Seven years passed and then I received this message from LABELMANCE. :
” Know this is old news but: I have no doubt the wood kaleidoscopes were done by Andrew and Robyn Leary from Kerikeri, New Zealand. I have one of their scopes and they're easy to recognize. Their more recent works are much more sophisticated. They used a rare wood from extinct trees and abalone shells in oil. Not just a kids toy.”
I had had no idea that it was a New Zealand item. I now need to learn more about Andrew & Robyn Leary.
I can now mark this post as SOLVED.
Below is the original posting.
The Treen Theme continues.....
This is an area which is really unfamiliar to me. Much to my father's disgust I was never any good at 'wood work': I was a severe disappointment to him. But I liked what I saw at the wood-turning displays at the Royal Easter Show. I saw this at an opportunity shop and it brought back memories.
I've had a look around the net for similar examples and have not found anything exactly like it. But I have noted that making kaleidoscopes is a big are in the wood-turning community.
David Brewster (1781 – 1868)
The kaleidoscope was invented by an Englishman, Sir David Brewster, in 1817 when he proved that the reflections of an object seen in many mirrors create patterns. "He was a serious physicist interested primarily in optics (the study of light), and he intended the device to be used for scientific research. The device came into vogue as an esoteric Victorian parlour entertainment" and later became a favourite of the "Trippy-Dippy Hippie" set. I fall into that sub-set of the baby-boomers!
http://www.infobarrel.com/Antique_Victorian-Era_Kaleidoscopes
Brewster coined the term kaleidoscope in 1817 from three Greek words: kalos (beautiful, beauty), eidos (form, shape), and skope0 (to look to, to examine). An eye (piece) for beauty!
This one has three parts: eye piece, tube and 'cellscope'. It looks vaguely like the traditional light-house form you see on older Victorian kaleidoscopes. That makes sense, I think. The 'cellscope' at the end has a frosted glass to let in a filtered light on the beads within. This piece revolves around the tube to create the change of image. It floats freely in both directions and is not screwed on. It is in two parts: the holder and the locking piece. There must be either two or three mirrors within the hollowed out tube. I've been reading a bit on how to tell whether there are 2 or 3 but I haven't worked it out yet: but I believe it to be three mirrors. How they do it in the space amazes me!
There is a glass lens within the likely turned aye aperture too.
Perhaps there was a stand?
I think the wood is Tasmanian Huon Pine, but I'm no real expert on wood.
I'd love to be able to show you a picture of the images within, but my photographic skills are not there yet! I think they are amazing.
Any help on this one would be appreciated.
It's 19.5 cm long, that's 7.5".
Many thanks Bellin and kerry10456 too!
It would be fun to take a peek inside. The kiddos have a cardboard version which is neat, so I imagine this is spectacular.
Still cracking me up with the dolls. Giggled out loud when I saw them.
Hey there, many thanks Miss Amber!
It's like the Daleks are coming, Danger, Danger!
Do Americans know about the Daleks?
Exterminate! Exterminate!
Yep, totally understand the who/what the Daleks are...
Did you ever see the episode Blink? With the stone angels? Freaked me out so my husband bought a bunch of the toy angels and put them all over the house. Every time I turned around there was another one.
Happy birthday Owen from the Land Down Under!
I can't stand Dr Who, but Paul waches it every day on the re-runs!
I see there arevery simmilar shapes you like :)
VERY COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Many thanks musikchoo & austrohungaro too!
Many thanks lisa!
Thank you V, Owen enjoyed his ice cream cake, friends and all the attention!
Many thanks bratjdd!
Many thanks miKKoChristmas11 & Budek too!
Many thanks AGHCOLLECT !
I so remembered that day when you first posted this!!!! very beautiful!!
Know this is old news but: I have no doubt the wood kaleidoscopes were done by Andrew and Robyn Leary from Kerikeri, New Zealand. I have one of their scopes and they're easy to recognize. Their more recent works are much more sophisticated. They used a rare wood from extinct trees and abalone shells in oil. Not just a kids toy.