Bidspirit auction | 19th C. French Poliorama Panoptique

19th C. French Poliorama Panoptique Partial - This 19th-century French optical viewing device, the Poliorama Panoptique, was patented in Paris to allow viewers to experience dramatic day-to-night transformations of specialized translucent landscape slides via an internal mirror and rear illumination flap. The apparatus is constructed of wood and cardboard, covered in a decorative green diamond-patterned paper with French instructional labels still affixed. This lot consists of the viewer housing only; it is incomplete, lacking both the necessary mounting base and landscape slides. The condition is poor, exhibiting significant age-related wear, including heavy flaking, cracking, and tearing to the green accordion bellows paper, edge scuffing, surface dust, and general loss to the delicate paper coverings throughout. H 5”, W 6.5”, D 10.75”. Please see photos for condition. From the Allen Koenigsberg collection.