This Bilboquet is both a a cup and ball game and a ring and pin game. In this version there are three "cups" in which to catch the ball, and also a "pin" on which to catch the ball. In this latter case, a hole in the ball substitutes for a "ring". One way to play the game is to hold the handle in one hand, and with the other hand throw the tethered ball into the air and catch the ball on the pin as the ball falls. Then while the ball is on the pin, toss the ball into the air, and catch the ball in the large concave bowl. A third toss - and the ball is to be caught in the reverse side of the bowl which is a concave smaller bowl. A fourth toss - and a player attempts to catch the ball on the base of the concave handle (which is the third "cup" and even smaller bowl). Unlike some other Bilboquet games, this one requires considerable wrist movement along with eye-hand coordination.
This Bilboquet was purchased in 1972. It was imported from Japan. The game is machine made of wood. The yellow painted handle is 15.9cm long . The handle is attached to one side of a 4.1cm diameter black painted smoking pipe-shaped concave bowl. A pin protrudes from the other side of the pipe bowl. The solid wooden ball (painted red) is 4.1cm diameter with a hole on one side, and tethered with a 30.8cm string attached on the other side. The other end of the string is anchored into the handle below the pipe bowl.
Last update February 26, 2010