Children Playing Knucklebones, Gardner Manufactory, Verbilki, 1870-1890

stamped iron red and impressed factory marks, impressed model number 122

Hillwood Museum, no. 9

Oda k Radosti/Ode to Joy, pp. 70-71, cat. no. 49

Bright and attractive, in overall good condition; with scattered small glaze losses, the interior of the basket with a darkened, inherent firing crack
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Russian version of the long-established game of knucklebones is called babki.  As Maxim Gorky described it in his memoir My Childhood (1913-1914), 'players arrange a series of knucklebones - typically sheep or cow bones that have been boiled for soup - in a line and try to knock their opponents' bones out of place by hitting them with a weighted object thrown from several yards away [usually] another knucklebone weighted with lead...'. This traditional game fascinated authors and artists of the 19th century, most notably Alexander Pushkin in his 1836 poem about this 'rousing Russian game'.