A spectacular early 20th-century French poster promoting the sensational vaudeville or circus act “Tumilet – La Toupie Humaine” (The Human Spinning Top). This brilliantly colored lithograph captures the daring innovation and kinetic energy of an era obsessed with mechanical marvels, speed, and human spectacle.
At the center, the performer "Tumilet" is depicted mid-spin, glowing with intense motion as he rotates atop a flaming turntable at an incredible 200 revolutions per minute, counter to the platform’s spin. The act is boldly advertised in three languages—French, Spanish, and Esperanto—suggesting its international appeal and touring circuit.
Below the performer, the poster illustrates the mechanical rig behind the stunt, emphasizing the technical sophistication involved in achieving such dizzying speeds. A vignette of Tumilet seated in thoughtful contemplation adds a theatrical flair to the layout.
The design, by the renowned lithographic firm Affiches Louis Galice, combines surreal motion effects with Art Nouveau touches and early industrial aesthetics. It’s not only a marvel of show-business advertising but also a fascinating glimpse into the cultural fascination with performance, engineering, and human limits at the turn of the century.
This is a rare and dramatic piece of circus and fairground history, perfect for collectors of early entertainment ephemera or lovers of the bizarre and brilliant world of Belle Époque performance art.
Original Poster
Circus - Show - France
200 revolutions per minute - This quite peculiar advertisement is for a human spinning top that promises 200 revolutions per minute in the opposite direction of the platform. We think it seems more akin to a torture device, which is perhaps why the Tumilet had a very brief existence.
Printed by Louis Galice in Paris
Good condition, some creases, minor restorations
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