While still researching "anamorphoses" ( that deal with representing on a flat surface a three-dimensional space by following newly developed laws of perspective) I discovered that I kept a toy which until then I ignored that it also belonged to the study of "anamorphoses" ( a nonnon engendering device).

It is called "Mirage" ( and must be easily available in the States, since manufactured by American Opti-Gone International) , an Instant 3-D Hologram maker. It consists of two convex shining receptacles, similar to a pan with its lid but the latter has a hole in the middle. When one places an object inside the pan it hovers "above" it ...

I tried to insert a picture of Nabokov  holding a net inside this "Mirage" "reflecting pan" but, unfortunately, the best result ( still, not even a very good one) only appears when I wrap the image around a marble.  I wonder if it is possible to discern the knob/face hovering above the covering in three of my attempts I here send.

By directly looking at the image one can see its three-dimensional characteristics, its volume appearing as knob on top of the lid.

Unfortunately photographs require special angles and lights, and expertise, therefore I could not get the stunning effetc. Somebody else might try this with better success. I tried it for the fun of it.

There is an "inversion" that is noticeable when we compare the original object and its virtual projection from a fixed standpoint.

At first I wondered if, placing a marble with the letters "Terra" in one side and Anti-terra on the hidden side, I would get a chance to photograph it hovering above with, say, only the word"Terra", whereas the original would bear the word "anti-terra", but the inversion obtained seems to be of a different order ( merely a change from left to right).  I'm really very inapt at that sort of thing...

Jansy

 

Jansy