Vintage wood “Bolero” - Cup-and-ball toy

Vintage wood “Bolero” - Cup-and-ball toy

Mexico 1960s-1970s

Size 18 cm long including the ball x 8 cm diameter

Cup-and-ball (or ball in a cup) or ring and pin is a traditional children’s toy. It is generally a wooden handle to which a small ball is attached by a string and that has one or two cups, or a spike, upon which the player tries to catch the ball. It is popular in Spanish-speaking countries, where it is called by a wide number of names (including boliche in Spain, Capirucho in El Salvador and balero in most of Hispanic America), and was historically popular in France as the bilboquet. A similar toy with three cups and a spike called Kendama is very popular in Japan and has spread globally in popularity.