French 1920s Wooden Soldier Skittles - Set of 5 with Ball wood and fabric quite an elegant and refined

quite an elegant and refined piece

with a terrific patina

The leather of the strap closure for the box is somewhat stiff/cracked

The Book of Tea is a long essay linking the role of "Chadō" (teaism) to the aesthetic and cultural aspects of Japanese life

French 1920s Wooden Soldier Skittles - Set of 5 with Ball wood and fabric quite an elegant and refinedI am pretty certain these wonderful hand painted turned wooden pins or skittles are French and that they date to the 1920s or so; I have found a few other sets which, though not exact matches, are fairly close. And I believe there would originally have been nine of them, to arrange in a diamond formation then roll this yellow ball at, in them hopes of knocking them all down. With their great tall hats and white buttons all down their fronts, at first