{"product_id":"rare-example-early-c-1840s-handmade-brewster-style-hexagonal-kaleidoscope","title":"Rare Example: Early (c. 1840s) Handmade Brewster-Style Hexagonal Kaleidoscope","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eI was really excited to find this one. I've had a few antique handmade kaleidoscopes over the years and will forever scoop them up when I come across them--I consider it something of a mission to cultivate wider appreciation for just how very cool and special these are! The kaleidoscope wasn't invented until 1816, by \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eScottish mathematician and physicist Dr. David Brewster, by accident, but he did not secure a permit and soon examples like this, of cardboard, glass, and paper, became a popular phenomenon, delivering magic to the people!  This is one of those, c. 1840s, and operates manually by turning the whole thing, working works just as it should. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10 1\/8\" l x 2 1\/12\" d. Very good condition, just light general wear. A pretty rare find, these most often are found in museums. I've done my best to photograph what one sees through the eye hole, but photos are not great. A good shake yields a whole new configuration of glass shards, then turning shifts them more gradually.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"critical EYE Finds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49010813534462,"sku":null,"price":140.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0015\/5022\/1382\/files\/IMG_5302_56364169-5170-4e85-be9a-1bfe656a2cc7.jpg?v=1789498044","url":"https:\/\/www.criticaleyefinds.com\/products\/rare-example-early-c-1840s-handmade-brewster-style-hexagonal-kaleidoscope","provider":"critical EYE Finds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}