Mail takes to the ice (detail). C. 1725

Mail takes to the ice (detail). Lille, France, c. 1725.

Three players, each with his own mail and boule, contest a match of mail on the ice. This variant, descended from pallemaille, was one of the many games including the hockey-like game of crosse, Flemish colf, Dutch kolf and bowls, that moved to frozen surfaces in the winter months.

Oberfinanzdirektion (inv. no. KRGT 9265), Stuttgart, Germany

Literatuur

 Golf through the ages by Michael Flannery, page 110. January 2004