Contortionist Collection

Siberian death defier and Aviator baffling John Clempert
Undated coloured poster for Siberian death defier and Aviator baffling John Clempert featuring illustrations of his tricks and performances. HPF/5B/18

Female contortionist Diana Gaye playing records
The female contortionist Diana Gaye in the sitting room, putting a record on the record player, with an array of the latest LP covers on display. Date: 1971

The Comical Hotch-Potch, or the Alpahbet Turn d Posture-Master. Print by Carington Bowles, English, 1782
ALPHABET, 1782. The Comical Hotch-Potch, or the Alpahbet Turn d Posture-Master. Print by Carington Bowles, English, 1782

The Hindu God Vishnu, between 875 and 900. Creator: Unknown
The Hindu God Vishnu, between 875 and 900

Contortionist, 18th century. Creator: Unknown
Contortionist, 18th century

Entertainment Contortionist. Make no mistake about this girl - shes a twister. A spineless twister, too. Whats more, shes a snake-in-the-grass, as well

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

India-China-Culture
In this photograph taken on June 11, 2018, Chinese artists performs during a Indo-China cultural exchange program in Kolkata. / AFP PHOTO / Dibyangshu SARKAR

Entertainment Contortionist. Make no mistake about this girl - shes a twister. A spineless twister, too. Whats more, shes a snake-in-the-grass, as well

Medieval acrobat and street entertainment, 1882-1884. A print from La France et les Francais a Travers les Siecles, Volume I, F Roy editor, Saint-Antoine, 1882-1884

Bacchus with a Vat, 1904 (marble)
PHG190971 Bacchus with a Vat, 1904 (marble) by Rodin, Auguste (1840-1917); 61.5x46.7x45 cm; Musee Rodin, Paris, France; (add.info.: Bacchus a la cuve, ou Le Chevrepied; ); ePhilippe Galard; French

Zutka of the Hippodrome in Fleet Street
Zutka, the famous man/doll appearing at the London Hippodrome in 1904 flies by accident out of his box opposite Andertons Hotel in Fleet Street on his way to a photographers studio

Zutka, the mystery turn at the London Hippodrome
Zutka, one of the latest turns at the London Hippodrome in 1904. But is he a live man or a mechanical boy? asks The Bystander

Medieval contortionist
Posture master or contortionist hanging from a pole held by two men, 14th century. Handcoloured lithograph by Joseph Strutt from his own Sports and Pastimes of the People of England

Medieval dancers and performers
Girl dancing on the shoulders of a bagpiper, 13th century, man playing a pipe while dancing on stilts, 13th century (top), tumbler preparing to leap through a hoop held by two others

A Village Festival with a Theatrical Performance and a Procession in Honour of St Hubert
5938061 A Village Festival with a Theatrical Performance and a Procession in Honour of St Hubert and St Anthony (detail), 1632 (oil on panel) by Brueghel

A Village Festival with a Theatrical Performance and a Procession in Honour of St Hubert
5938057 A Village Festival with a Theatrical Performance and a Procession in Honour of St Hubert and St Anthony (detail), 1632 (oil on panel) by Brueghel

A Village Festival with a Theatrical Performance and a Procession in Honour of St Hubert
5938055 A Village Festival with a Theatrical Performance and a Procession in Honour of St Hubert and St Anthony (detail), 1632 (oil on panel) by Brueghel

Tun Sookh Doss Bairago, Hindu Religious Mendicant, Allahabad
STC439697 Tun Sookh Doss Bairago, Hindu Religious Mendicant, Allahabad, from The People of India, by J. Forbes Watson, published 1868 (albumen print) by English Photographer

Plate 512. Contortions on Rings, 1872-85 (collotype on paper)
3950358 Plate 512. Contortions on Rings, 1872-85 (collotype on paper) by Muybridge, Eadweard (1830-1904); 17.6x44 cm; Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

Plate 511. Contortions on the Ground, 1872-85 (collotype on paper)
3950357 Plate 511. Contortions on the Ground, 1872-85 (collotype on paper) by Muybridge, Eadweard (1830-1904); 21.4x33.3 cm; Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

Plate 510. Contortions on the Ground, 1872-85 (collotype on paper)
3950356 Plate 510. Contortions on the Ground, 1872-85 (collotype on paper) by Muybridge, Eadweard (1830-1904); 18.4x41.9 cm; Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

Entertainment Contortionist. Make no mistake about this girl - shes a twister. A spineless twister, too. Whats more, shes a snake-in-the-grass, as well

Madras Juggler imprisoning girl in basket - Jill in the Box
Jill in the Box - The Madras Juggler imprisoning his girl in a basket. Performed at Wemblet in 1925. circa 1925

Who rewards the Posture Masters, Cries of London, (c1688?)
Who rewards the Posture Masters. A posturing street entertainer and his monkey. The man stands on one leg, holding his other leg behind his head, while the monkey mimics his pose

J Clark the Posture Master, Cries of London, (c1688?)
J Clark the Posture Master, A street entertainer who appears to be very fat, and from the positions of his feet, double-jointed. From Cries of London, (c1688?)

Distractions at the front; the human serpent, France, World War I, 1915. A print from the Le Flambeau (the Torch), 18 September 1915

Female contortionist Diana Gaye relaxing
The female contortionist Diana Gaye stretching out and relaxing in her bikini. Date: 1971

Female contortionist Diana Gaye washing up
The female contortionist Diana Gaye helping (or hindering) her mother with the washing up. (1 of 2) Date: 1971

Female contortionist Diana Gaye and car boot
The female contortionist Diana Gaye sitting half in and half out of an open car boot, helped by a young male assistant. (2 of 5) Date: 1971

Female contortionist Diana Gaye making tea
The female contortionist Diana Gaye in the kitchen with her mother, making a pot of tea. (2 of 2) Date: 1971

Beth Beri
Miss Beth Beri aka Elizabeth Kislingbury, one of the dancers with the Ziegfeld Follies pictured in The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News at the time she was performing in cabaret entertainment at

Female Contortionist
The female contortionist, inside a suitcase, gives the thumbs up signal to show that she is okay. She is carried off by a man who told her it was a trick. Silly girl Date: 1960s

Dancer & Contortionist performing vertical splits
An English dancer & contortionist ( Marie ) performing vertical splits!

A Trio of French Child Contortionists and Acrobats. Date: circa 1930s

Malaysia - Sandakan - Contortionist acrobat. Card sold in aid of the building fund for the Phillipino Association of Sandakan

The Snake Man: A contortionist entertaining his fellow French soldiers by performing seemingly impossible contortions. From Le Flambeau, Paris, September 1915

Young woman doing aerobics in lycra and legwarmers. Date: circa 1980s

Abdul-Ham - Arab Boy Acrobat - Hi act is called Arabian Fantasies and this card states tat he is the very best at it! Date: circa 1910

China. Acrobats performing at the Imperial Court. Nineteenth-century colored engraving

Relief depicting contortionists dancers. Temple of Hatshepsut. Eighteenth Dynasty. New Kingdom. Deir el-Bahari. Egypt

Relief depicting a contortionists dancer. Temple of Hatsheps
Relief depicting acontortionists dancer. Temple of Hatshepsut. Eighteenth Dynasty. New Kingdom. Deir el-Bahari. Egypt

Relief depicting a group of dancers. New Kingdom. Temple of Luxor. Egypt

Acrobatic clown on a Christmas card
Acrobatic clown in a colourful costume on a Christmas card. Date: circa 1890s

Mademoiselle Mona de Gray (real name: Florence Cockle) (1893-1987) - British Contortionist and acrobat. Date: circa 1910s

China. Acrobats performing at the Imperial Court. Nineteenth-century colored engraving

CIRCUS POSTER, 1899. The Adam Forepaugh and Sells Brothers Shows Combined - Phenomenal Acts of Contortion. Chromolithograph, 1899

Contortionist in tuxedo jacket, top hat, and tights performing surrounded by other performing contortionists. Date c1892

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"Unleashing the Extraordinary: The Enigmatic World of Contortionists" Step into a realm where human limits are defied and bodies contort in unimaginable ways. Meet the Siberian death defier, an acrobat whose astonishing flexibility leaves audiences breathless. Witness Aviator baffling John Clempert as he twists and turns his body with grace and precision. Intriguingly, female contortionist Diana Gaye takes her talent to new heights by playing records while bending her body into seemingly impossible positions. A true marvel of dexterity and skill, she captivates spectators with every move. Delve into history with "The Comical Hotch-Potch, " an enchanting print from 1782 showcasing the Alphabet Turn d Posture-Master. Carington Bowles' artwork transports us to a time when contortionism was already captivating audiences. From acrobats performing daring feats to Diana Gaye's moments of relaxation or washing up after a mesmerizing performance, this world is filled with wonder at every turn. Even mundane tasks like making tea become extraordinary when performed by these talented individuals. Beth Beri embodies the fusion of India-China culture as she showcases her incredible abilities on stage, blending traditional elements seamlessly with modern entertainment. Make no mistake about it – these they are not just performers; they are twisters who push their bodies beyond what seems possible. Their dedication and passion for their craft shine through in every mind-bending act they deliver. Prepare to be amazed as you enter the enthralling world of contortionism where boundaries cease to exist, leaving only awe-inspiring displays of strength and flexibility that will leave you questioning what it truly means to be human.