Product Details
'Cove' (RARE VINTAGE 1992) is a charming sea themed, musical parlor kaleidoscope by American artists Toby & Barbara Tobecksen. The sleek, sturdy, hardwood body and base were created in a simplified traditional design and houses a sharp 3-mirror system. There is a music box inside the base and by winding the object disk, it slowly rotates as it plays a cheerful song. The object disk has a blue holographic background, under glass, and has been carefully encrusted with natural seashells in various sizes and colors, coral branches, a genuine pearl, a little seahorse and starfish, tube beads and rhinestones. The absolutely crisp and gorgeous kaleidoscopic imagery produced will delight anyone that loves the sea! This 35 YEAR OLD kaleidoscope is in perfect condition and was well cared for over the years. Measures approximately 11.75"T x 2.5"Diameter at the viewing end, 5.75"Square at the base, the object disk is 4.5"Diameter. Signed and dated (TOBAR DESIGNS©1992 Toby & Barbara Tobecksen - MADE IN THE USA) by the artists.
Note on the artist: Before designing kaleidoscopes, Warren "Toby" Tobecksen was well-known in the 1950s and 1960s as a prominent commercial creator of tiki-themed culture under the name "Toby Designs," producing famous tiki mugs, lamps, and luau invitations. In the late 1960s, he transitioned his creative focus to optical art, engineering handcrafted musical kaleidoscopes that paired complex geometric mirror systems with internal music boxes. Because Tobar Designs operated as a specialized studio rather than a mass manufacturer, authentic pieces from the late 20th century are highly sought after by collectors of vintage kaleidoscopes, optical toys, and kinetic art.
