Bilboquet

possibly ca. 1780

Stick and ball toy: ball pierced with hole through center, featuring black engraved images of putti in various stages of play, including several using a Bilboquet; foliage, flowers, pair of doves on plinth in background; continous festoon above play vignettes; top and bottom of ball feature continuous acanthus leaf motifs; ball attached by green silk cord to spirally fluted, baluster-turned stick; stick engraved with additional acanthus leaf motifs near top and bottom; continuous coin pattern carved above and below; stick inscribed near top: "MENUS PLAISIRS DU ROY, VERSAILLES." Narrow post at top of stick inserts into larger hole at the bottom of the ball.