Chinese fireworks facts for kids

For the pyrotechnic devices invented in medieval China and used around the world today, see fireworks.

Chinese fireworks or paper fireworks, also known by the more distinct French terms feux pyriques or feux arabesques, is a type of optical toy box that displays pictures with twinkling light effects. The pictures are partly printed or painted and partly perforated into plates that are made of paper, parchment or cardboard. Different plates can be placed in the front of the box, one by one. A wheel with a spiraling pattern on coloured transparent paper is made to rotate between a light source and the picture plates, causing the light to flicker and move in different colours through the perforations in the plates.

The box is usually a wooden cabinet with a drawer to store the plates and a theatre window above, with a slit to hold a picture. Some versions have two slits so the pictures can be changed without much interruption. Dutch Chinese fireworks picture plates are square and found in two sizes: 32 cm and 40 cm. The wheel is usually set in motion through a clockwork mechanism. Some versions had a cylinder instead of the wheel. The light source used to be candles or oil-lamps.

Chinese fireworks creates an effect, the effect was used to create the impression of flames, fireworks, fountains, sun rays, city lights, et cetera. Many other pictures displayed abstract patterns. Also coats of arms and short texts are among the known extant plates.