305:
40:
20:
313:
1355:
215:
32:
199:
353:: The loop is grasped with the middle, ring, and little fingers so that there is a couple inches of string between them. These fingers are put together so there is a circle made by the overlapping strings. The index finger is inserted from the far side into the circle, and the index finger rotated upwards, circling towards the body.
106:"Of the games people play, string figures enjoy the reputation of being the most widespread form of amusement in the world: more cultures are familiar with string figures than with any other game. Over 2,000 individual patterns have been recorded worldwide since the 19th century. It was long believed that anthropologist
328:
strings, fingers and their loops (near middle finger string, right index finger, pinky loop, for example), while others number them (3n, R1, 5 loop). One of the first methods of recording figures and sets of terminology was an anatomical system proposed in "A Method of
Recording String Figures and Tricks" by
327:
While in string figure literature there are many phrases often used, there may be some variation with the fingers, loops, and strings indicated in different ways. A loop is the strings that go around the back of a finger, multiple fingers, or another body part such as the wrist. Some authors name the
110:
was the first to describe the construction of string figures (a pair of Inuit string figures) in 1888 (Boas 1888a, 1888b, Abraham 1988:12).", but actually string figure instructions already feature in several 19th century
European books on children's games prior to that. String figures are probably
102:
According to
Camilla Gryski, a Canadian librarian and author of numerous string figure books, "We don't know when people first started playing with string, or which primitive people invented this ancient art. We do know that all primitive societies had and used string—for hunting, fishing, and
369:: Following from Position 1, the right index finger picks up the string on the left hand going between the thumb and the little finger. The left index finger then goes between both strings of right index finger, and picks up the string going from the right thumb to little finger.
336:. Though location or locations of a string are most often indicated by casual systems of terms such as "near" or "far", the Rivers and Haddon system is far less ambiguous, though this may be unnecessary for the most common, illustrated, figures.
375:: Place the loop around one's thumbs, then insert the left index proximally into the thumb loop, taking up the left ulnar thumb string. Insert one's right finger proximally into the left index loop, taking up the radial string and forming an x.
127:
in the 1800s, thought of amusing the Dayak youths with a novel game with string, was in turn very surprised when they proved to be familiar with it, and showed him some figures and transitions that he hadn't previously seen. The
67:
or sometimes between the fingers of multiple people. String figures may also involve the use of the mouth, wrist, and feet. They may consist of singular images or be created and altered as a
280:(ISFA) was formed in 1978 with the primary goal of gathering, preserving, and distributing string figure knowledge so that future generations will continue to enjoy this ancient pastime.
308:
Anatomical string figure locations, both hand. Labels indicate string/loop location (near/far, below/above, between hands, back of hand/(palm side)) unambiguously.
1028:
259:
237:
from the 1880s through around 1900, as they were used in attempts to trace the origin and developments of cultures. String figures, once thought to have proven
1314:
1227:
135:
has also attributed string figure knowledge with saving his life and described his use of this game in the early 1900s to obtain the cooperation of
1388:
277:
1001:
776:
739:
706:
1240:
392:: Starting with a loop on the thumb, the string is lifted in the nook of the index finger, then pinched between the index finger and thumb.
94:, but many string figures are known in many places under different names, and string figures are well distributed throughout the world.
381:: The Japanese Opening is similar to Opening A, however the strings are picked up with the middle fingers instead of the index fingers.
254:
1188:
1165:
1145:
1131:
1111:
1091:
1037:
679:
655:
406:, "navajoing", or "Navajo": Given two loops on one finger, the lower loop is moved over the upper loop and released from the finger.
1282:
289:
245:
pastime in many societies. Many figures were collected and described from south-east Asia, Japan, South
America, West Indies,
967:
1474:
1246:
1479:
1307:
304:
1428:
1140:
Anthropological Papers of the
American Museum of History, Vol. 71 (1992), Seattle: University of Washington Press,
429:
111:
one of humanity's oldest games, and is spread among an astonishing variety of cultures, even ones as unrelated as
1412:
692:
527:
207:
718:
Celnart, Mme (1827) Manuel
Complet des Jeux de Société. Paris: Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret. p. 339-340.
1469:
1300:
473:
139:
1393:
1344:
556:
463:
312:
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184:
153:
112:
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being placed in the center of the figure and the four loops tied near the top of the head. Called the "
222:
533:
214:
31:
257:. Figures have also been collected in Europe and Africa. One of the major works on the subject is
1407:
1171:
207 pages, a book for beginners and advanced, English translation of German, features photographs
561:
487:
432:
for:put two things together): the thumbs loops are combined before strings are drawn through them
333:
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weaving—and that string figures have been collected from native peoples all over the world."
798:
599:
521:
246:
1275:
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1403:
1373:
509:
483:
468:
453:
329:
1339:
912:. Anthropology and Nutrition. Vol. 2. Melbourne University Press. pp. 415–513 .
551:
145:
otherwise unfamiliar with, and suspicious of, Europeans, having been told by his teacher
91:
159:
produced the earliest known written description of a string figure in his first century
1378:
1176:
987:
is currently published by Royal
Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland.
870:
503:
478:
230:
192:
183:", the resulting figure has been identified by multiple sources as the figure known to
129:
120:
1272:- complete text and illustrations from the book, in HTML format. Jamis Buck, compiler.
1138:
Julia P. Averkieva with Mark A. Sherman (contributor), "Kwakiutl String
Figures", in:
908:
McCarthy, F. D. (1960). "The string figures of
Yirrkalla". In Mountford, C. P. (ed.).
1463:
890:
T. T. Paterson (1949), "Eskimo String
Figures and Their Origin," Acta Arctica 3:1-98.
242:
234:
203:
202:
Women's string-figure depicting "menstrual blood of three women", illustrating the
132:
116:
979:"A Method of Recording String Figures and Tricks". W. H. R. Rivers; A. C. Haddon.
802:
604:
587:
323:" made in a doubled cord. Resembles "A Hole in the Tree" with different crossings.
1398:
515:
136:
789:
Miller, Lawrence G. (1945). "The Earliest (?) Description of a String Figure".
1354:
458:
238:
172:
107:
84:
825:
198:
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160:
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on surgical knots and slings. This work was preserved by republication in
1433:
316:
156:
924:
910:
Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition in Arnhem Land
1283:
The Hands of Children Playing With String Will Lead Us Into the Future
1278:
A series of DEMO videos about String Figures made by Ludwig Caballero.
1202:
Boroko, Papua New Guinea: Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies, 1979.
1448:
1268:
124:
64:
56:
1219:
1247:
How to Make a Cat's Cradle from a Piece of String: a video tutorial
1443:
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311:
303:
288:
287:
250:
213:
197:
191:
are purported to possess a string figure representing the extinct
188:
142:
60:
38:
30:
18:
1292:
1438:
1256:
1021:
942:
265:
176:
149:, "You can travel anywhere with a smile and a piece of string."
68:
1296:
1213:
Official website of the International String Figure Association
629:
618:
Jayne (1962), p.340. Also Elffers & Schuyt (1979), p.44-5.
421:
1234:
1263:
with illustrations by Avinash Deshpande (52-page PDF book).
904:. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. p. 445.
634:
Web of Life International, a project of Aloha International
1223:- Many examples with video clips showing how to make them.
23:
Photograph of a boy having made "Lightning", from Jayne's
876:. Lawrence, Kansas: University of Kansas Press. pp.
171:. The figure is described as a sling to set and bind a
1235:"The Survival, Origin and Mathematics of String Figures"
902:
Blood Relations: Menstruation and the Origins of Culture
1126:, International String Figure Association 1999, Dover,
1018:
Bulletin of the International String Figure Association
929:
Bulletin of the International String Figure Association
818:
Bulletin of the International String Figure Association
339:
Below are some common moves, openings, and extensions.
39:
19:
1212:
1421:
1362:
1330:
1063:, Cambridge, UK: Heffer 1934 (many later editions)
1231:, "String Magazines" with many figures in English.
1106:, New York: William Morrow & Co Library 1996,
1086:, New York: William Morrow & Co Library 1985,
1075:, 1987, New York: William Morrow & Co Library
869:
730:Buchanan, Andrea J. and Peskowitz, Miriam (2007).
1243:, " Island of Moa", collected by Kathleen Haddon.
925:"Abstract A Tribute to James Hornell (1865-1949)"
850:(2). International String Figure Association: 3–4
567:Diné Bahaneʼ#Spider Man, Spider Woman and Weaving
87:, such as to predict the sex of an unborn child.
672:Cat's Cradle, Owl's Eyes: A Book of String Games
646:Elffers, Joost and Schuyt, Michael (1978/1979).
1183:, New York: Macmillan Publishing Company 1984,
1308:
219:The lovers Okiku and Yosuke play cat's cradle
8:
1042:An exhaustive study of this material culture
630:"The Ancient Art of Hawaiian String Figures"
363:loop is put on the thumb and little fingers.
241:, appear to have arisen independently as an
79:involving various figures made in sequence (
1315:
1301:
1293:
701:, p.xiii. University of British Columbia.
695:(1992) "Introduction by Mark A. Sherman",
83:). String figures have also been used for
763:
761:
726:
724:
603:
996:Averkieva and Sherman (1992), p.xxviii.
666:
664:
1389:International String Figure Association
578:
278:International String Figure Association
1158:Cat's Cradles and Other String Figures
923:Heppell, David; Sherman, Mark (2000).
648:Cat's Cradles and Other String Figures
229:String figures were widely studied by
1220:Collection of Favorite String Figures
1160:, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books 1979.
7:
1269:String Figures and How to Make Them
1200:String figures of Papua New Guinea.
1029:String Figures and How to Make Them
260:String Figures and How to Make Them
45:String Figures and How to Make Them
25:String Figures and How to Make Them
1156:Joost Elffers and Michael Schuyt,
1049:String Games from Around the World
446:Anthropologists & ethnologists
439:Notable collectors and enthusiasts
14:
1168:(Viking Press, 1980, paperback).
292:The "cup and saucer" begins with
1353:
1281:Murphy, James R. (11/06/2012). "
1084:Many stars and more string games
539:Hiroshi Noguchi (Ayatori player)
296:, and step 3 (illustrated) is a
208:mythology of menstrual synchrony
16:Artistic design made with string
1026:Caroline Furness Jayne (1906),
983:, Vol. 2. (1902), pp. 146-153.
820:, vol. 4, pp. 90–94,
187:as "The Sun Clouded Over". The
586:Foster Jr., George M. (1941).
1:
803:10.1525/aa.1945.47.3.02a00190
605:10.1525/aa.1941.43.1.02a00300
931:. No. 7. pp. 1–56.
755:, Volume 1, p.89. Macmillan.
63:on, around, and using one's
628:Lois & Earl W. Stokes.
43:Illustrations from Jayne's
1503:
1266:Jayne, C. F. (1962/2009).
1193:116 pages - String stories
1124:Fascinating String Figures
1061:String Games for Beginners
588:"String-Figure Divination"
1351:
872:Quipus and Witches' Knots
816:D'Antoni, Joseph (1997),
767:Morell, Virginia (1996).
732:The Daring Book for Girls
90:A popular string game is
1215:, based in Pasadena, CA.
1073:Cat's Cradle, Owl's Eyes
751:Wallace, Alfred (1872).
691:Averkieva, Julia P. and
670:Gryski, Camilla (1983).
123:who, while traveling in
962:Gryski (1983), p.18-9.
791:American Anthropologist
698:Kwakiutl String Figures
592:American Anthropologist
422:
59:formed by manipulating
1394:Caroline Furness Jayne
1345:List of string figures
906:Figure re-drawn after
868:Day, Cyrus L. (1967).
844:String Figure Magazine
557:List of string figures
324:
309:
301:
271:Caroline Furness Jayne
226:
211:
185:Aboriginal Australians
48:
36:
28:
753:The Malay Archipelago
315:
307:
291:
217:
201:
42:
35:"Osage Two Diamonds".
34:
22:
1098:A book for beginners
1078:A book for beginners
1066:28 figures, 40 pages
1054:A book for beginners
1047:Anne Akers Johnson,
474:Guy Mary-Rousselière
1480:Decorative ropework
1261:arvindguptatoys.com
1118:A book for advanced
900:Knight, C. (1995).
840:"Plinthios Brokhos"
534:Harry Everett Smith
169:Medical Collections
1287:HuffingtonPost.com
1237:by Martin Probert.
1228:Magazines Ficelles
1104:Super string games
838:ISFA (June 2001).
769:Ancestral Passions
562:Spider Grandmother
390:Caroline Extension
325:
310:
302:
227:
212:
75:, or as part of a
49:
37:
29:
1457:
1456:
1384:Kathleen Rishbeth
1241:Magazine Mai 2003
1059:Kathleen Haddon,
1002:978-0-7748-0432-5
777:978-0-684-82470-3
740:978-0-06-147257-2
707:978-0-7748-0432-5
321:Plinthios Brokhos
268:
247:Pacific Islanders
181:Plinthios Brokhos
167:' fourth century
1492:
1475:Children's games
1429:Children's games
1357:
1331:Figures, series,
1317:
1310:
1303:
1294:
1255:by Arvind Gupta
1253:String Games.pdf
1198:Noble, Phillip.
1071:Camilla Gryski,
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693:Sherman, Mark A.
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522:W. W. Rouse Ball
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379:Japanese Opening
264:
255:Native Americans
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1374:Julia Averkieva
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1276:LOop Paper Toys
1249:, MetaCafe.com.
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1014:
1012:Further reading
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524:(mathematician)
510:Kathleen Haddon
492:
454:Julia Averkieva
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330:W. H. R. Rivers
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231:anthropologists
154:Greek physician
100:
17:
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1207:External links
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1177:Anne Pellowski
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797:(3): 461–462.
793:. New Series.
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598:(1): 126–127.
594:. New Series.
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347:Murray Opening
285:
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223:EishĹŤsai ChĹŤki
193:woolly mammoth
130:anthropologist
121:Alfred Wallace
119:of Indonesia;
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945:. 1999-06-26
943:"About ISFA"
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1365:collectors,
1333:& games
516:Honor Maude
512:(zoologist)
506:(librarian)
464:C. F. Jayne
404:Navajo leap
386:Extensions
239:monogenesis
175:, with the
147:A.C. Haddon
137:Sub-Saharan
73:string game
1464:Categories
1181:Story Vine
968:0590254863
949:2008-12-09
854:2008-08-13
573:References
469:D. Jenness
459:Franz Boas
357:Position 1
253:and other
206:'s tribal
173:broken jaw
108:Franz Boas
85:divination
1257:cs.sfu.ca
1151:199 pages
826:1076-7886
734:, p.277.
650:, p.197.
424:Katilluik
373:Opening B
367:Opening A
361:untwisted
343:Openings
294:opening A
165:Oribasius
161:monograph
113:Europeans
1434:Knitting
1022:isfa.org
771:, p.33.
546:See also
536:(artist)
412:Transfer
317:Heraklas
157:Heraklas
115:and the
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409:Release
400:Pick up
140:African
98:History
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418:Share
284:Terms
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233:like
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189:Inuit
77:story
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