This Bilboquet is a ring and pin game. The intent of the game is to throw the larger bone in the air and "spear" it in the drilled hole. This is done by sticking the tip of the small bone into the hole drilled into the larger bone.
This Bilboquet was purchased in 1973 from the Inukshuk Galleries, Inc., a Canadian company which acts as an outlet for Inuit (Eskimo) art related products. The game is hand made of two types of animal bone: 1) a pin shaped small bone (.1cm long x .6cm wide) sharpened to a point at each end, and 2) a larger bone (3.7cm long x 2.6cm wide x 4.3cm high), with the marrow drilled out. On one side of the larger bone, a hole has been bored into it in order to attach a 32.2cm long hemp tether. The other end of the tether is tied around the small bone about half way down its length, in a groove carved into the bone.
To view other Inuit games made of bone and leather, click on the "Inuit Games" item in the left menu panel.
Last update February 26, 2010