A wonderfully graphic pair of early Ping-Pong or table-tennis paddles dating to circa 1900. Each paddle features a turned and lacquered wooden handle joined to an oval frame covered with stretched vellum and bound along the edge in dark leather. Both retain their gilt “Ping Pong” markings at the throat.
Sometimes described as “drum” paddles because of their construction and resonant playing surface, vellum paddles belong to the earliest period of table tennis, when the game was a fashionable Victorian and Edwardian parlor amusement. Their elongated handles and taut natural surfaces differ considerably from the laminated wooden bats introduced during the early 20th century.
The paddles are arranged in opposing directions within a later black-painted shadowbox, transforming the pair into a particularly attractive piece of sporting art. English or American, circa 1900.
Condition
Good antique condition. The vellum surfaces exhibit discoloration, staining, wear, and areas of loss consistent with age and use. The wooden handles and leather-bound frames retain an appealing aged surface with scattered abrasions and finish wear. Presented in a later custom shadowbox frame.
Dimensions
20 3/4 x 9 3/4 x 1 3/4 inches
Provenance
Private collection.