Tightrope Collection

Bird Millman
Jennadean Engleman - famous name (Bird Millman ODay) (1890 1940), Tightrope walker one of the most celebrated high-wire performers

Tightrope Walker
Karl Wallenda, 71 year old High wire walker, crossing the Thames by Tower Bridge 1976

BOOK WEEK, 1960. Hurray for books! Poster by Maurice Sendak, 1960

Christmas card with a clown on a tightrope, with the sea and rocks below. Date: circa 1890s

Smiling ringmaster in circus ring pointing to acrobats juggling, walking tightrope and balancing on unicycle

Engraving depicting tightrope dancers, 19th century
5308667 Engraving depicting tightrope dancers, 19th century; (add.info.: Engraving depicting tightrope dancers. Dated 19th century 01/02/1850); Universal History Archive/UIG

The Tightrope Walker, 1904 (pastel on board)
822783 The Tightrope Walker, 1904 (pastel on board) by Shinn, Everett (1876-1953); 30.5x33 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Tightrope Walker. Everett Shinn (1876-1953). Pastel on board

Farina, with a man on his back, 1860
1577589 Farina, with a man on his back, 1860; (add.info.: Farina, with a man on his back, crossing the Niagara on a tightrope. From a sketch taken by the late H)

Engraving depicting a tightrope walker performing in Vauxhall Gardens, London, 19th century
5308953 Engraving depicting a tightrope walker performing in Vauxhall Gardens, London, 19th century; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a tightrope walker performing in Vauxhall Gardens, London)

Engraving depicting the Scottish equilibrist Duncan MacDonald, 18th century
5308952 Engraving depicting the Scottish equilibrist Duncan MacDonald, 18th century; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the Scottish equilibrist Duncan MacDonald)

Various examples of the use of the centre of gravity
5310192 Various examples of the use of the centre of gravity; (add.info.: Engraving depicting various examples of the use of the centre of gravity. Dated 19th century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The Rope Dancer, late 19th century. Creator: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
The Rope Dancer, late 19th century

Le Bate, in or after 1756. Creator: Charles-Germain de Saint-Aubin
Le Bate, in or after 1756

Acrobates - acrobats
A delightful illustration from Larousse Encyclopedia detailing a variety of acrobatic entertainers performing impressive physical feats. Date: 1930

Actor Michael Crawford works out on the high wire with a charlady sweeping the floor. 8th April 1981

Actor Michael Crawford works out on the high wire. 8th April 1981

Bertram Mills Circus at Luton. April 1950 O23401-012

Victorian London - Charles Blondin at Shoreditch
Vintage engraving showing a scene from 19th Century London England. Charles Blondin The Great Blondin performs the tightrope walker act at Shoreditch circa 1870

The Great Blondini - walking the high wire above four lions
A slightly fanciful illustration of French tightrope walker Charles Blondin (Jean Francois Gravelet) (1824-1897) - walking the high wire above a pit of four large male lions. Date: circa 1850s

In Warsaw, a man tightrope walks along a tramway cable, is arrested and taken to a psychiatric hospital Date: 1937

TIGHTROPE ACCIDENT
Acrobat Giacomo Gullotti dies when his tightrope wobbles violently while performing the stunt over the Piazza Nicastro. Date: 1930

I Wonder What It Is, from Princess Marie-Joses Childrens Book, published 1916 (colour litho)
2607888 I Wonder What It Is, from Princess Marie-Joses Childrens Book, published 1916 (colour litho) by Rountree, Harry (Herbert R.) (1878-1950)

Antique illustration of 18th century acrobat on the tightope (Slacklining)
Antique illustration of a 18th century French acrobat performing during a show or training a tightrope-walking exercise (Slacklining)

La Danseuse de Corde (The Tight Rope Walker) (Furnishing Fabric), Nantes, 1785 / 90
La Danseuse de Corde (The Tight Rope Walker) (Furnishing Fabric), Nantes, 1785/90. Manufactured by Petitpierre et Cie

Tight-Rope Walker, c. 1885. Creator: Jean Louis Forain
Tight-Rope Walker, c. 1885

Elephant Rope Dancing, from A Hundred Anecdotes of Animals, pub. 1924 (engraving)
3481236 Elephant Rope Dancing, from A Hundred Anecdotes of Animals, pub. 1924 (engraving) by Billingshurst, Percy J. (1871-1933); The Stapleton Collection; out of copyright

Rope Dancer at Venice (engraving)
1092825 Rope Dancer at Venice (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rope Dancer at Venice)

Anthony Madox, the surprising English posture master (engraving)
586398 Anthony Madox, the surprising English posture master (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Anthony Madox, the surprising English posture master)

Niagara Falls (chromolitho)
2782710 Niagara Falls (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Niagara Falls. Italian tightrope walker Maria Spelterini crossing the Niagara Gorge in 1876)

The Surprising Equilibres on the Slack Rope by the Grand Turk, Mahomed Caratha
CWA124844 The Surprising Equilibres on the Slack Rope by the Grand Turk, Mahomed Caratha, printed by Robert Sayer (fl.1750-80) (engraving) by English School

French tightrope walker Charles Blondin crossing Niagara Falls, 1859 (b / w photo)
5229605 French tightrope walker Charles Blondin crossing Niagara Falls, 1859 (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Cartoon, Mrs Weldon, in litigation again - Be sure you don t fall, Georgie! Georgina Weldon (1837-1914), classical singer, was frequently involved in lawsuits and libel cases with others

A Chinese circus, illustration from Le Costume Ancien et Moderne
STC232906 A Chinese circus, illustration from Le Costume Ancien et Moderne by Giulio Ferrario, published c.1820s-30s (coloured engraving) by Zancon

The Incomparable Ravel, French rope dancer
The incomparable Ravel, a guitar-playing French tightrope artist from the early 19th century, with two dancers on thick ropes

Six satyrs or fauns performing on a tightrope. Two carry a thyrsus, one plays a tibia, one plays a lyre, one pours wine from one vase to another, and one balances with his hands together

Tightrope walker above the Montmorency Falls, Canada (colour litho)
2782396 Tightrope walker above the Montmorency Falls, Canada (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tightrope walker above the Montmorency Falls, Canada)

Never before had the king of beasts become a balancer (Colour Litho)
2778394 Never before had the king of beasts become a balancer (Colour Litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info)

Tightrope walker at Venice (engraving)
3098042 Tightrope walker at Venice (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tightrope walker at Venice)

Scraps for Juveniles (colour litho)
3104667 Scraps for Juveniles (colour litho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration for a booklet of Scraps for Juveniles, Coloured (Thienemann, Myers)

Caffe-concerto: tightrope dancers (chromolitho)
1093221 Caffe-concerto: tightrope dancers (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Caffe-concerto: tightrope dancers)

They walked on ropes drawn good and tight and jumped through hoops and landed right (colour litho)
2776752 They walked on ropes drawn good and tight and jumped through hoops and landed right (colour litho) by Campbell, Floyd V

The Useless Boldness (Colour Litho)
2777887 The Useless Boldness (Colour Litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: The useless audacies. A motorcyclists hobby in Belle Vue, near Manchester)

September fair (engraving)
608740 September fair (engraving) by Cruikshank, George (1792-1878); Private Collection; (add.info.: September fair); Look and Learn / Peter Jackson Collection; English, out of copyright

Poster advertising Le Pays d Or ( The Land of Gold ), c
485255 Poster advertising Le Pays d Or ( The Land of Gold ), c.1880 (colour litho) by Lemaresquier, Louis (fl.1870-80); Private Collection; (add.info)

Elephantine Performances, pub. c. 1854 (hand coloured etching)
2493170 Elephantine Performances, pub. c.1854 (hand coloured etching) by Cruikshank, George (1792-1878); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; English, out of copyright

Jacob Hall, the famous rope dancer (engraving)
609510 Jacob Hall, the famous rope dancer (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Jacob Hall, the famous rope dancer); Look and Learn / Peter Jackson Collection

Advertisment for Folies-Bergere, Travail Merveilleux sur le Fil de Fer par Fontaine, pub
2962401 Advertisment for Folies-BergAre, Travail Merveilleux sur le Fil de Fer par Fontaine, pub. In Paris 1870-1890 (colour litho) by French School

Tom, Jerry and Logic in Characters at the Grand Carnival
CWA124836 Tom, Jerry and Logic in Characters at the Grand Carnival, from Life in London by Pierce Egan, 1821 (coloured aquatint) by Cruikshank

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"Tightrope: Balancing Life's Challenges with Grace and Courage" In the world of daredevils and dreamers, the tightrope walker stands tall. From the enchanting pages of Maurice Sendak's "BOOK WEEK, 1960. Hurray for books. " poster to the mesmerizing performances of Bird Millman, this captivating art form has captured our hearts. A Christmas card adorned with a clown fearlessly treading on a tightrope reminds us that even in moments of celebration, we must stay focused and steady. The smiling ringmaster in the circus ring points to acrobats juggling, walking the tightrope, and balancing on unicycles – a testament to their unwavering determination. On April 8th, 1981, actor Michael Crawford showcased his dedication as he worked out on the high wire. His commitment mirrored that of The Great Blondini who fearlessly walked above four lions without flinching. Yet not all tightrope walks end in applause; some lead down unexpected paths. In Warsaw during 1937, a man daringly traversed along a tramway cable only to be arrested and taken to a psychiatric hospital – an example that sometimes our pursuit of greatness can come at great costs. But amidst triumphs and tribulations alike lies an undeniable beauty within this perilous act, and is through these feats that we witness human potential pushed beyond limits - acrobats defying gravity with each step they take upon slender ropes suspended high above ground. Traveling back in time to Victorian London brings us face-to-face with Charles Blondin at Shoreditch - an icon whose name became synonymous with bravery and audacity. His legacy lives on as inspiration for those seeking balance between risk-taking and self-preservation. In life's grand performance where uncertainty dances hand-in-hand with courage, we find ourselves walking our own metaphorical tightropes daily.