ANTIQUES NEWS! Oldest CRICKET PLAYER in the World | Ball Shock in California

Huge Auction Result for oldest cricketer in the world!
This is believed to be the oldest three-dimensional figure of a cricketer. Carved from white marble, the sculpture dates to the late 18th century and was sold recently in a California auction. The sculpture is either English or Italian (carved on the grand tour possibly?) The buyer of the sculpture was London based.

Sporting memorabilia has a huge following around the world and this piece is exceptional in the fact that it’s three dimensional and being 18th century is very rare

Cricket, invented in the south of England, became the country's national sport during the 18th century. It was also the perfect game to export throughout the empire and to every
colony.
Living abroad, often in tropical conditions, quite alien to the average Briton, the playing of tradition home grown team sports helped keep the bonds strong between the colonials.
Cricket was the ideal game for this. It could be played even in intense heat and it was thought of as the most important game anyone could and should play throughout the empire... and for the good of the empire. Cricket matches allowed different sections of colonial society to come together in a bonding exercise. It kept community cohesion strong amongst the Brits abroad' and was often the social highlight of the week, where whole families could spend the day mixing and relaxing in good and alike company. This was seen as being good for mind and soul. It helped keep the British, British, no matter where in the world they found themselves.
Sport unifies nations, brings people of different cultures together and unites in a way nothing else can. Cricket especially was used as a ‘getting to know you' exercise. It helped build relationships and business connections and was part of the glue that kept the empire together.

ANTIQUES NEWS! Oldest CRICKET PLAYER in the World | Ball Shock in California

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