A set of nine wooden yellow, green, red and blue skittles or nine-pins. One lacks its top; seven of the skittles have red tops, and one a blue top, identifying it as the king pin.

Skittles is derived from the French game 'quilles' and was played in England from the 14th century. The name changed over the years to 'skittles'. By the early 19th century the games of skittles and nine-pins had become distinctly different games.

This set of skittles or nine-pins was used by the Gilbert family of Pewsey Vale in the late 19th century. There was no ball with the set when presented to the Children's Literature Research Collection in the late 1960s; this, the damage to one pin and the general signs of wear on the other pins indicate the level of use the children made of this set.

Permission to use this item for any purpose, including publishing, is not required from the State Library under these conditions of use.

Buy a high resolution copy.