Object number
83/52
Description
This is a solid wooden ball with flattened sides and studded with nails. It was found unaccessioned in the Museum and its origins are unknown.
This is a solid wooden ball with flattened sides and studded with nails. It was found unaccessioned in the Museum and its origins are unknown. It is probably an early type of boule used in the game of Jeu Proven�al or Petanque. According to the Oxford Companion to Sports and Games, Jeu Proven�al is a ball and target game similar to lawn bowls. Petanque is a similar game which developed out of Jeu Proven�al and originated in Provence but spread elsewhere in France. The chief difference between the two games is the length of the pitch. It is longer in Jeu Proven�al and a run-up is allowed but not in Petanque. The game is directly descended from Greek and Roman forms of bowls. The bowls are now made of steel but were originally made of boxwood studded all over with nail heads which gave a hard even surface.
Physical description
1 bowl, or boule: wood; metal; good condition
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: [PROBLEM] BOWL or BOULE // Accession number: 83/52 // Classification: [PROBLEM] SOCIETY Recreation games // Negative number: 60/14400 // Acquisition method: // Acquired from, date: found in museum unaccessioned // Store: small object // Condition: good // Recorder, date: JMB. 16.9.83 // Description: A heavy wooden ball with flattened sides. It is studded with flat headed nails and has 4 small holes on one side and 3 small holes on the other side. // Dimensions: Diameter at middle: approx. 11.0cm // Height: approx. 8.0cm // Associated information: This problem object could well be an early boule for Jeu Provencal or Petanque. // JEU PROVENÇAL // A ball and target game similar to lawn bowls and the game that sprang from it - PETANQUE - originated in Provence but spread elsewhere in France. // The chief difference between the two games is the length of the pitch. It is longer in Jeu Provençal and a run-up is allowed but not in Petanque. // The game is directly descended from Greek and Roman forms of bowls. The bowls are now made of steel but were originally made of boxwood studded all over with nail heads which gave a hard even surface. // From Oxford Companion to Sports and Games // Edited by Arlott. // References:'
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Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_14400.tif - High resolution image
