Today we went to see an exhibition of Czech toys in Chvalský castle. http://www.chvalskyzamek.cz/.
Pavel Macek showed some „Twistoscopes“ and „Inspectacles“ – Boxes with a scene which the spectator can set in motion with a handle. A sort of free penny arcade machine, or an inside out automaton.
The boxes have been repurposed e.g. From an old sewing machine cover.
Peer inside and you might see this
Or this
Or this
All moving of course. In this case the rats fleeing Hamelin, following the pied piper.
DIY puppet show. Kim hasn’t learned to keep his head down yet.
There’s no strings on them!
Ironing the Czech way.
All of the best toys wear hats.
A pipe-smoking donkey riding a scooter, an everyday sight in Prague?
Kim as a Bohemian officer.
Coronavirus cake in the Legion Bank (Legionářská banka).
Very elegant way to keep the weather at bay.