kyser
01-29-2015, 05:56 PM
Hello All, I picked up this folk art/primitive collection in Cincinnati. The outsides seem to be hand painted paper. The large figurines have a wooden pedestal, and the smaller have a pin. Does anyone know if these were popular crafts at one time or has anyone seen anything similar?
Thank You
vintagesportscollector
01-29-2015, 06:44 PM
Interesting pieces. I haven't seen anything similar before nor have any knowledge of this type of art and theme being popular - but one theory is that this may not be football, but rather rugby. May not be American. Could be late 19th century and made in England, France, Australia or other place where rugby was very popular and bigger than football in America at the time. Rugby was competed in the Olympics as early as 1900. Just a guess on another possibility, but the ball and cap type helmet also lead me to think rugby.