ART OF STRING FIGURES

Evening Star, Issue 21751, 20 June 1934, Page 12

ART OF STRING FIGURES

ADDRESS BV MB W. C. ALDRIDGE String figures as an art (with demonstrations) was the subject treated by Mr W. G. Aldridge in an address before members of the archaeological branch of the Otago Institute at the Museum last night. The Chairman (Mr H. D. Skinner), in introducing the speaker, said that string figures were an important part of culture among thinking folk. Mr Aldridge said that the subject was a most attractive one, requiring a great deal of finger skill. To the recorders of the art of string manipulation he owed a great deal for the preparation of his address. With the aid of his two daughters, who mainly demonstrated the various figures spoken of, Mr Aldridge commenced with the simple figure commonly known as the “ cat’s cradle,” while one of the demonstrators showed how a few deft movements of the fingers changed the figure into others named the “ candle,” the “ manger," “ cat’s eye,” “ trellis, ’ and “ tridents.” These were European contributions to the subject. Tricks with string came from Africa and the north coast of South America. Anthropologists at first failed to understand the technique of string figures. Some of the best figures of the world would probably never be known now, as civilisation had billed them before they could be explained in print. Prom Central Africa came some figures which to perform required an extremely complicated series of movements, which afforded a delight to the fingers. At one time the manipulators practised chanting as they performed the tricks. By means of further illustrations, he then showed how the looping of string had developed since primitive methods were employed, and how the feet were sometimes used to assist in some of the intricate figures desired. He then spoke of the stage when the savages who did the tricks realised that there were other parts of the body that could be made use of in performing with stiing. These savages made use of the fingers, and the wrists much more than hitherto, and learned to turn their fingers inside put. A series of demonstrations of how birds, butterflies, fish, clouds, and a cpbra were sketched in string was then given, Mr Aldridge afterwards turning to the methods used by the Maoris and Hawaiians in forming their string objects. By means of a list of different figures, the “ Story of the man who fished ” was told. The work of the savages in building in string showed an element of skill and innocence. In doing these tricks the finger movements were elusive, but there was a noticeable system in the art.

The speaker and his assistants were accorded a hearty vote of thanks.