Tiddlywinks is a classic game from England. Joseph Assheton Fincher, of London, invented and patented the pasttime in 1888, and trademarked it under the name “Tiddledy Winks” in 1889.
A popular parlor game in Victorian England, tiddlywinks was played by both adults and children. The game consists of counters, made of wood, bone or ivory, and a bowl or other similar vessel. Players take turns pressing the edge of one of the larger counters against one of the smaller counters in order to direct or flip it into the bowl.
Students at Cambridge established the modern game of tiddlywinks in 1955, renewing the game’s popularity. The modern version is more complex and boasts newer rules.
Today, tournaments are played in the UK and the US, and team rivalries are taken very seriously. Two national tiddlywinks leagues gain recognition: The English Tiddlywinks Association and the North American Tiddlywinks Association.
This classic game is still played. This retro version relies on rules dating back to the game’s creation in 1888.
Did you play tiddlywinks – or a variation of it – when you were a kid?
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