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Knucklebones - Sheep, circa 1955
Reg. No: SH 990055
- Summary:
- Alternative Name(s): Jacks
Six sheeps' knucklebones, dyed to different colours. Given to Dorothy Howard by a twelve-year-old boy in Perth, Western Australia, around 1955.
Knucklebones, or Jacks, is an ancient game, dating back to prehistoric times. The first jacks were natural materials - animal bones, stones, seeds and shells. Sheep's knucklebones were the most common type of jacks in Australia during the first half of this century, and children would colour them by boiling them in water with ink or dye. During the 1950s, mass-produced plastic knucklebones became available. These objects are examples of the very earliest type of mass-produced plastic replica knucklebones used by Australian children to play the game of Jacks. The size, shape and weight of real sheeps' knucklebones were replicated, in contrast to later versions which are much smaller and lighter.
This object forms part of the Dorothy Howard Collection, contained within the ACF Collection. The ACF Collection is unique in Australia, documenting contemporary children's folklore across Australia and in other countries reaching back to the 1870s. The Collection has a strong component of research material relating to Victoria. See Supp File 99.01. - Description:
- Six sheeps' knucklebones in natural state. Five approximately the same size, one slightly larger. The large jack has a hole drilled through the centre. Two of the bones are weathered and discoloured.
- Acquisition Information:
- Tax Donation from Dr June Factor, 1999
- Acknowledgement:
- Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
| Discipline: | History |
More information
| Tagged with: | children s folklore, children s play, farm animals, food technology, games, livestock, sheep |
| Themes this item is part of: | Australian Children's Folklore Collection, Childhood & Youth Collection, Domestic & Community Life Collection, Leisure Collection, Sustainable Futures Collection, Dr Dorothy Howard (1902-1996) |
| Primary Classification: | GAMES & TOYS |
| Secondary Classification: | Action Games |
| Tertiary Classification: | hand |
| Date Used: | Perth, Western Australia, Australia, circa 1955 |
Themes
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