Name/Title
U.S. Maine.Entry/Object ID
2015.4.183Description
Magic Lantern glass slide with sepia toned photo of the U.S.S. Maine, which was sunk in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898. There is a narrow sticker with the title of the slide handwritten across the top and the name of the manufacturer of the slide underneath on the front of the slide.
The lantern slide has its origins in 17th century optical viewing devices which came to be known as “magic lanterns.” The earliest slides for magic lanterns consisted of hand-painted images on glass, projected by itinerant showmen telling stories about the images that were projected.
Hand Painted
They can be recognized by the simple paint areas applied with a brush and the obvious brush strokes.
By the difficult term Decalcomania we describe the technique of transferring pictures from specially prepared paper to surfaces such as glass, china, pottery etc. In the world of magic lanterns we specifically mean the application of this process while making a lantern slide by transferring an image to a square or oblong piece of glass. The technique was used by professional slide makers, but enjoyed a vogue among amateurs too. Images were printed in colors by the chromo-litho principle, and then transfered to glass. Porous paper was coated with a solution of starch, albumen and glycerin. The colored pictures were printed, details first, background last, and then finished by a coat of glue. (According to http://www.magiclanternsociety.org/about-magic-lanterns/lantern-slides/).Collection
ScarmuzziAcquisition
Accession
2015.4.0Source or Donor
Patricia A. ScarmuzziAcquisition Method
Gift