Early French bilboquet (English cup & ball)

Famously played by Henry III of France this childhood game dates back to the 16th century.

Played by royalty and people with wealth in the high courts, by children in the streets and by many other as a way of gambling.

The game can be played either by trying to land the ball on the cup or with a bit more skill/difficulty getting the ball to land on the spike.

I am a big fan of wood and an ever bigger fan of old traditional games and I believe it does not get much better than this combination!

There is a famous quote from a man who said, "If ever I went back into society I should carry a ball and cup in my pocket and play with it all day long to excuse myself from speaking when I had nothing to say."

I would love to put an age on this but I think it is a very difficult piece to judge accurately. I have a feeling that is quite an early bilboquet.

Thanks for looking.