Games of Precision and Simplicity

Simple games are often the best, and the games of the Regency involving sticks, balls and string were often simple indeed. But they were old games, sometimes ancient, and they required great skill to become really proficient.

Ringtoss, in its outdoor versions called quoits or hoopla, is a basic game--toss a ring in the air and catch it on a stick. It had its origins in ancient Greece, and this illustration from 1815 shows how charming it looked played in the Regency.

The 'devil on two sticks', later called diabolo, had its origins in ancient China where it evolved from the Chinese yo-yo. It enjoyed a resurgence of popularity just a few years ago, but as you can see, ladies of the Regency era  (this illustration is Parisian 1815) found it amusing also. Official rules did not appear until 1881, but numerous tricks can be performed by a proficient user of the sticks.

I find 'bilboquet' a particularly interesting pastime, though I cannot find a Regency illustration of the activity. There are two variations of the game--a cup-and-ball version, and a ring(or pierced ball)-and-pin version. The game is know world-wide--called kendama in Japan, where it is still popular, it is also known in Mexico, among the Inuit and First Nations peoples of North America, as well as in Europe.

This 1840s American illustration shows boys at play, 

and this plate, with its humourous illustration, shows the pierced ball and pin in action.

This illustration from a modern package shows the cup and ball in use.

This charming painting by French painter Jeanne Bole though painted in the 19th century, shows a child in 16th century dress holding a cup and ball (very similar to a modern wood version that I own). We do know that the game was popular in France in the early 16th century.

An on-line antique auction site (artfact.com) recently had the following description of an item for sale:

"A Regency rosewood bilboquet. The delicately turned stem with scalloped holder. The entire strung with pierced ball." It sounds charming, and I'm wondering what price it fetched.

These simple games cannot compete with the technical wizardry of a 'Wii', but I am certain they provided just as many hours of entertainment. Simple games for a simpler time? Perhaps....

'Til next time,

Lesley-Anne