Summary

Commercially-made game of jacks, comprising five plastic star-shaped jacks and a yellow rubber ball. It is likely to have been made in recent decades.

Jacks is an ancient game, dating back to prehistoric times. The first jacks were natural materials - animal bones, stones, seeds and shells, and when the game became a popular part of children's culture, manufacturers began mass-producing them from plastic and metal. In Australia, jacks are mostly shaped like sheep's knucklebones, but overseas there are also ceramic cubes and 'star'-shaped metal pieces.

Used as a prop in the 'House Secrets' exhibition at Scienceworks, 6 March 2006 to 14 July 2013. Most of the props for the exhibition were sourced from opportunity shops in 2002 and 2003 by curator Andi Horvarth and other Museum Victoria staff. 'House Secrets' aimed to 'Explore the science behind all the familiar things in our homes', presenting 'all sorts of wonderful things we might find around the home, from the food we eat, to the appliances we use, to the animals we share our living space with.' The exhibition was 'highly interactive'.

Physical Description

Game of jacks, comprising five plastic star-shaped jacks and a yellow rubber ball. Each jack is different: grey with purple lines; red with yellow lines; maroon with yellow lines and gold tips; yellow with cone-shapes on its tips; and clear yellow with purple lines and sold yellow tips. The jacks are relatively light-weight.

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