String Games

A string figure is a pattern formed by weaving string around one's fingers, or sometimes between the fingers of multiple people. String figures may be created and altered as a game or as part of a story. Various figures that can be made in sequence include a cup, then a glasses and a fish. Another series is mountains, river, fish, fisher, big fish, king and bones of the fish.

step 4 of "Cup and Saucer" step 4 of "Cup and Saucer"

String figures were widely studied by anthropologists from the 1880s through around 1900, as they appear to have arisen independently as an entertainment pastime in many societies. Many figures were collected and described from Pacific Islanders, Inuit and other Native Americans. The first known book of string figures was String Figures and How to Make Them, by Caroline Furness Jayne.

The most popular and well known string game appears to be cat's cradle.

step 5 of "lizard" step 5 of "lizard"

A great deal of additional information on string figures, on-going efforts to collect them worldwide, and their often unique methods of construction is available in the publications of the International String Figure Association (ISFA).

Further reading

  • Caroline Furness Jayne, String Figures and How to Make Them, ISBN 048620152X
    An exhaustive study of this material culture
  • Anne Akers Johnson, String games from around the world, Klutz 1996
    A book for beginners
  • Kathleen Haddon, String games for beginners, Heffer 1974
    28 figures, 40 pages
  • Camilla Gryski, Cat?s cradle, owl?s eyes, 1987, William Morrow & Co Library
    A book for beginners
  • Many stars and more string games, William Morrow & Co Library 1985, ISBN 0-688-05792-6
    A book for beginners
  • Super string games, William Morrow & Co Library 1996, ISBN 0-688-15040-3
    A book for advanced
  • Fascinating String Figures, International String Figure Association 1999, Dover, ISBN 0-486-40400-5
    A book for advanced
  • Julia P. Averkieva with Mark A. Sherman (contributor), Kwakiutl string figures, Anthropological papers of the American Museum History, Vol. 711992, University of Washington Press, ISBN 0-7748-0432-7
    199 pages
  • J. Elffers and M. Schuyt, Cat's Cradles and Other String Figures, Penguin books 1979
    207 pages, a book for beginners and advanced
  • Anne Pellowski, Story vine, Macmillan Publishing Compagny 1984, ISBN 0-02-044690-X
    116 pages - String stories

External links

Back | Home | Up | Next