Creative Commons License
Leaf from The Ghistelles Calendar
(Manuscripts and Rare Books)
Stoolball may have been an early version of baseball. Dating to the 11th century, it was a folk game that men and women played together. While many variations existed, typically one person threw a ball at a stool, which a "batsman" would try to defend by hitting the ball away. If the batsman succeeded, he would run around to several stools (like bases) to score, while others tried to get him out. The traditional prize was a cake, or even a kiss!
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Possibly made for John III, Lord of Ghistelles and Ingelmunster, (d. 1315); Sir Sydney Cockerell [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Dr. Rosy Schiling [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Western Manuscripts and Miniatures Sale, Sotheby's London, December 1, 1998, Lot 17; Walters Art Museum, 1999, by purchase.
Exhibitions
| 2010 | Checkmate! Medieval People at Play. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. |
Geographies
Flanders (Place of Origin)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, made possible by the Women's Committee, Octavo Plus, and Mr. and Mrs. James Ulmer III, 1999
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
W.851.5R
