What is an antique bowling set?

An antique bowling set consists of traditional turned wooden pins, known as skittles, accompanied by solid wooden balls. These sets date back to the nineteenth century and were manufactured for recreational play in gardens or indoor alleys.

How were these sets used?

Players rolled heavy wooden balls across a flat surface to knock down the formation of upright pins. They served as a popular form of social recreation and lawn gaming during the Victorian period.

What woods are used in construction?

Surviving sets utilise dense domestic timbers such as oak and pine to withstand the constant impact of play. Turners shaped each piece on a lathe to create balanced pins and round balls.

How do I date an antique set?

Dating relies on the style of the lathe work, the type of timber, and any accompanying box or label. Nineteenth-century examples show hand-turned characteristics distinct from later mass-produced twentieth-century games.