{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1131216"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1131216/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1131216","accessionNumber":"E.328:1, 2-1950","objectType":"Zoetrope","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The modern zoetrope, also known as the Wheel of Life, was invented in 1834 by British mathematician William George Horner. The device became popular in the 1860s, thanks to Milton Bradley who patented it in the United States. It is one of a range of optical toys that delighted and intrigued people in the second half of the nineteenth century. The illusion of movement that the zoetrope demonstrates is based on the principle of  persistence of vision, where the eye will remember an image for a brief moment. As the zoetrope spins one glimpses a sequence of changing images through the slits on the drum, and they appear animated. This simple idea forms the basis of modern film technology.","physicalDescription":"Zoetrope with metal cylinder and detachable brass stand. There are slits in the cylinder to look through and view the cartoon strips, including one of a witch riding geese over a crescent moon. ","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Horne & Thornthwaite","id":"A6540"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x39721"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"},{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"}],"techniques":[{"text":"forging","id":"AAT54033"},{"text":"woodcut","id":"AAT53296"},{"text":"hand-colouring","id":"AAT133555"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Film and Cinema","id":"THES264410"},{"text":"Moving Image","id":"THES393366"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"YVA","id":"THES48593"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES343402"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES343402"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Zoetrope","id":""}],[{"text":"Stand","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1857-1866","earliest":"1857-01-01","latest":"1866-12-31"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Metal zoetrope made in England by Horne & Thornthwaite between 1857 and 1866","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.328:1-1950","E.328:2-1950"],"accessionNumberNum":"328","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1950,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Zoetrope","Stand"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-20","recordCreationDate":"2009-07-01","availableToBook":false}}