Antique Victorian Magic Lantern Slip Slide CAPERS Harlequin Clown Pantomime For Sale

This is a Victorian-era “slipping slide” (slip slide) for a magic lantern, dating to approximately 1870–1900, most likely of British or German manufacture. A slipping slide works by mounting two glass plates in a wooden frame, with one movable “slipping glass” that slides laterally in front of a fixed one — creating the illusion of movement or a change in the image when projected.

Featuring a clever visual pun. The fixed glass shows a jar labeled “CAPERS”, and when the slip glass is pushed in, a Harlequin and Clown/Pierrot emerge from the jar — literally doing “capers” (meaning antics/tricks). It’s a classic Victorian wordplay joke. The figures are beautifully chromolithograph-decorated with vivid colors — the diamond-patterned Harlequin and the round-faced Clown are iconic pantomime characters.

This “CAPERS” subject is a known and documented magic lantern slip slide theme, which adds to its collectibility.