[an inflated bladder used by Flappers on Laputa] · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: [an inflated bladder used by Flappers on Laputa]
Subject: scholars in literature; floating islands in literature; fictional works; imaginary places; Fictitious characters; imaginary creatures
Period: 1800-1850;
Description: Here we see one of the inflated bladders used by Flappers on Laputa. These bladders were filled with peas or pebbles and were used to communicate. Laputan scholars would become so involved in their work they could not speak, hear, or see what was in front of them. It was the role of the Flapper to tap the scholar gently on either the mouth, ear, or eyes to communicate information to them, and distract them from their work. In this image we see the bladder with astronomical and musical motifs, and the stick that it was attached to. The Flapper would stand or walk behind the scholar and carry the bladder, often holding the bladder over the shoulder of the scholar. The same image appears in the 1843 Krabbe edition.
Image Creator: Grandville (Illustrator)
Type: StillImage; Book Illustrations
Identifier: mta:20990
Language: ger
Source Name: Gulliver's Reisen in unbekannte Länder
Parent Collection: 1839 Stuttgart Grandville vol. 2; 1839 Stuttgart Grandville vol. 2
Image: mta_20990_OBJ.png
Collection: Gulliver's Travels
Subject: scholars in literature; floating islands in literature; fictional works; imaginary places; Fictitious characters; imaginary creatures