Are kaleidoscopes considered “real” art pieces?
Unfortunately, kaleidoscopes do not have the long history of other art forms such as painting and sculpture. As a result, most people still associate kaleidoscopes with the toy scopes of their youth, with their cardboard exteriors and poor mirrors. Most are astounded when shown even an entry-level production scope which uses front-surface mirror and lampworked object pieces. Many of the current limited edition kaleidoscopes being made can certainly be considered “real” pieces of art in every aspect. It’s mostly a case of non-familiarity with kaleidoscopes, which organizations such as the Brewster Kaleidoscope Society and others strive to eliminate.
