Lefort Boite

Museo Nazionale del Cinema Collection, Torino, Italy^[*] #MNC-M03371

France, ca.1848

Dimensions: H= cm, W= cm, D= cm

Lens: ⌀= cm, ƒ= cm

 

Figure M03371.1 – Lefort Boîte
Photo © Rod Bantjes.

Figure M03371.2 – Lens and Paper Pattern
Photo © Rod Bantjes.

This is an early boîte d'optique from the workshop of Henri Lefort (1804-1880). It is an example of an "optical machine " and is included in the Optical Machine Taxonomy.

 

Like other Lefort boîtes this one is designed for Leforts' paper dioramas. Unlike most Lefort boîtes the images are inserted from the top rather than the side. This is perhaps an earlier, less convenient design since the top-flap must be lifted to insert the paper diorama on its wooden frame.

 

This box also has a gold-painted reflective surface on the top-flap and an internal matte-black mask.

 

It has a label from the shop where it was sold: Magasin le Maire, Rue Chapon 284.

 

The lens is turned to a typical pattern for this workshop: inner and outer double ridges separated by a valley (figure M03371.2). The green patterned paper is also typical, but the pattern varies. These changing patterns may be a clue to dates.

 

For more on these boîtes d'optique see my discussion of the one in the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum in Exeter, UK.

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