The kaleidoscope : $b its history, theory and construction. With its application to the fine and useful artsBrewster, David
Science
The kaleidoscope : $b its history, theory and construction. With its application to the fine and useful arts
Brewster, David
Kaleidoscopes
The following general method of finding the harmonic colours will
enable the reader to determine them for tints not contained in the
preceding table. Let =A B=, Fig. 23, be the prismatic spectrum,
containing all the seven colours, namely, _Red_, _Orange_, _Yellow_,
_Green_, _Blue_, _Indigo_, and _Violet_, in the proportion assigned to
them by Sir Isaac Newton, and marked by the dotted lines. Bisect the =A
B= at _m_, so that =A _m_= is equal to =B _m_=, and let it be required
to ascertain the colour which harmonizes with the colour in the Indigo
space at the point _p_. Take =A _m_=, and set it from _p_ to _o_,
and the colour opposite _o_, or an orange-yellow, will be that which
harmonizes with the indigo at _p_. If _p_ is between _m_ and =A=, then
the distance =A _m_= must be set off from _m_ towards _n_.
[Illustration: FIG. 23]
In order to show the method of constructing object-boxes on the
preceding principles, we shall suppose that the harmonic colours of
orange-yellow and indigo are to be employed. Four or five regular
figures, such as those already described, must be made out of
indigo-coloured glass, some of them being plain, and others twisted.
The same number of figures must also be made out of an orange-yellow
glass; and some of these may be drawn of less diameter than others,
in order that tints of various intensities, but of the same colour,
may be obtained. Some of these pieces of spun glass, of an indigo
colour, may be intertwisted with fibres of the orange-yellow glass. A
few pieces of white flint-glass, or crystal spun in a similar manner,
and intertwisted, some with fibres of orange-yellow, and others with
fibres of indigo glass, should be added; and when all these are joined
to some flat fragments of orange-yellow glass, and indigo-coloured
glass, and placed in the object-plate, they will exhibit, when applied
to the Kaleidoscope, the most chaste combinations of forms and colours,
which will not only delight the eye by the beauty of their outline,
but also by the perfect harmony of their tints. By using the thin and
highly-coloured films or flakes of decomposed glass, very brilliant and
beautiful patterns are produced. These films may be placed either upon
a mirror plate or upon black wax, and they may be placed among other
objects, or fixed in movable cells. By applying the Kaleidoscope to
crystals in the act of formation, shooting out in different directions,
symmetrical patterns are instantaneously created.
The effect produced by objects of only one colour is perhaps even
superior to the combination of two harmonic colours. In constructing
object-plates of this kind, various shades of the same colour may be
adopted; and when such objects are mixed with pieces of colourless
glass, twisted and spun, the most chaste and delicate patterns are
produced; and those eyes which suffer pain from the contemplation of
various colours, are able to look without uneasiness upon a pattern in
which there is only one.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account