Traditional v Wild & Inventive


Whilst the enthusiasts for the kaleidoscope can now be found in all parts of the globe, the USA, largely due to the efforts of Cozy Baker, is the focus. In ever chic New York, Massimo creates kaleidoscopes from sterling silver (hallmarked of course) that can be worn on a fine chain. At the other extreme, where else but in California could you find ‘scopes like the wild and inventive Sea Parrot by Sue and Bob Rioux. Their scopes hand made from brilliantly coloured stained glass which forms the outer body, and then fitted with external end pieces (not unlike windmill blades) which contained glycerine filled cells with pieces of floating glass and metal.

Before leaving California, its worth taking a quick look at the blown glass kaleidoscopes created in the Simi Valley by David and Debbie Rosenfeldt. These exquisite pieces of the glass blowers art are also fine examples of the kaleidoscope, though using construction methods that are a wild departure from the traditional.

Traditionalists, however, are well served, and the sublime wood craftsmanship of Henry Bergeson. With a career in working on wooden boats on the rough coasts of Maine, Henry turned his skills to the making of fine wooden ‘scopes. Using seasoned timbers like bubinga, walnut and maple, Henry hand shapes and polishes each piece, and then creates highly original kaleidoscopes or taleidoscopes ( a first cousin, with a clear lens for the end piece, which enables it to convert whatever its pointed at into kaleidoscopic image.) Henry uses a mix of liquid filled cells, marbles and tumbling cells, often interchangeable, with some ‘scopes fitted with their own rechargeable light sources.

In England, most kaleidoscope makers of quality are represent by local enthusiast, Paul Kurtsow of the Alexander Collection in Amersham, a pretty village on the rural edge of London. Aside from representing a slew of Americans, Paul now represents a fine English craftsman, Marc Tickle. Marc spent his education and the early years of his career working in IT before deciding to throw it all in and follow his passion for art. Good choice. His travels eventually took him to the USA, where he became interested firstly in glass and then in kaleidoscopes. He returned home in 1997, and began creating ‘scopes of fine hand painted glass with lampworked sculptured glass, and using liquid filled ampoules in his cells. He created the ‘gecko’ scope upon which handmade geckos are soldered onto slender brass tubes which form the outer shell of the ‘scope.

Toy or objet d’art


The kaleidoscope is the invention of Scottish scientist Sir David Brewster. In 1816 whilst conducting experiments into light polarity, Brewster noticed that the 2 mirrors he had set at 30 degrees angle to each other in a confined space, created what appeared to him to an infinite number of reflections when the mirrors were moved back and forth. Brewster’s early kaleidoscope was made from a tube in which he had placed pairs of mirrors at one end, and pairs of translucent disks at the other end. Between the two, he had placed brightly coloured beads. When light entered through one end, and Brewster looked through the other, ever-changing patterns of light were reflected, captivating the Scottish scientist.

He swiftly patented the concept, though, in what may be one of the earliest cases of the abuse of intellectual property rights, the device was soon copied easily by many others.

From these beginnings, the kaleidoscope has developed into an object that can be found as an inexpensive toy, an artisan made device, or a collectible objet d’art. In the swinging ‘60s the images from the kaleidoscope inspired designers of interior furnishings, textiles and lighting. Today, the interiors of a kaleidoscope may utilise the traditional beads, sections of coloured glass, combinations of oil and water and so on, really only limited by the taste and imagination of the maker.

In its simplest forms, the kaleidoscope is a tunnel of mirrors. The viewer looks in one end of the scope, and light enters the other end reflecting off the mirrors. As the tube is rotated the tumbling motion of the beads or other items causes the colour and pattern changes seen through the eyepiece. A setting of the mirrors at 45 degrees creates 8 duplicate images, 60 degree, 6, and a 90 degree angle creates 4.

Sir David Brewster is remembered today by the formation of the Brewster Society. Its founder and driving force is an American woman, Cozy Baker, who found the kaleidoscope bought her peace during a family tragedy in 1981. Some twenty years ago she became captivated with the ‘scopes, and in 1986 formed the Brewster Society to further the cause. The society now has 700 members around the globe, and in 1999 Cozy publisher the definitive text “Kaleidoscope- Wonders of Wonder”.