Accession number
PML 88119
Published
[Germany], ca. 1830.
Credit line
Gift of Julia P. Wightman, 1991.
Notes
Game, fortune telling. A box with a glass top has a brightly colored paper covering printed with a circle containing various labels lettered "Riches," "Very likely," etc., and decorated with figures of Cupid and Bacchus. In the center, beneath the glass, is a circular table, with a colored gilt-edged decorative top concealing a magnetic needle which is free to revolve in the manner of the compass, and which has the figure of Fortune attached to one end. Three octagonal discs printed with various questions, and each having concealed within a magnetic needle are placed on the center table and the questions on the discs are answered by the needle beneath the table pointing to one of the labels in the outer ring.
Marie Anne Lenormand (1772-1843) became famous as a fortune teller in France. A contemporary of hers was Franz Anton Mesmer (1753-1815) who was also much "in the news" for his theories concerning magnetism. The combination of fortune telling and magnetism was most probably suggested to the inventor of the above game by his or her reading of the doings of these two people.
Marie Anne Lenormand (1772-1843) became famous as a fortune teller in France. A contemporary of hers was Franz Anton Mesmer (1753-1815) who was also much "in the news" for his theories concerning magnetism. The combination of fortune telling and magnetism was most probably suggested to the inventor of the above game by his or her reading of the doings of these two people.
Description
1 game ; 19 x 19 cm.
Provenance
From the library of Julia P. Wightman.
Binding
In the original box, its lid printed in colors with a figure of Mlle Lenormand and the title in German, French, and English. In a 1/4 green oasis and olive green buckram box by Julia P. Wightman.
Classification
Catalog link
Department