Peepshow

Crystal Palace peepshow, Lane’s Telescopic View, about 1851. Museum No. E.2649-1953 (click image for larger version)

The Museum has two early peepshows, dating from 1721, in the collection. These could be better described as mini-theatres. Made in Austria and engraved by Englelbrecht, they are elaborate and were obviously intended to entertain high society. They consist of a series of small boxes set within one large box. Each box contains a scene with coloured cut-outs. This was a very different concept compared to the 19th century travelling peepshows which were displayed at fairs in Europe. Travelling peepshows were large enough for several people to view at the same time and would have had changing pictures and light alterations. This type of peepshow was also known as a raree show.

Small peepshows for the home were very popular as souvenirs. When folded up they become easily portable. Events such as the opening of the Thames Tunnel (1843) and the Great Exhibition (1851) ideally lent themselves to the construction of peepshows. Other examples, such as St Mark's Square in Venice, might be mementoes of a trip abroad.

Crystal Palace peepshow, Lane’s Telescopic View, about 1851. Museum no. E.2649-1953 (click image for larger version)

Peepshows could also be bought in kit form and, enhancing them with lenses and mirrors, you could create a very realistic effect.