4 rare early to mid 20th century folk art hand turned coconut sticks from a travelling fairground coconut shy. With later shelf.
once a common site at any visiting fairground, the coconut shy has almost been lost as a sideshow attraction.
the coconut shy may have originated at the annual pleasure fair in kingston upon thames in around 1867. the event took place on the town's fairfield which was only a short distance from middle mill, a coconut fibre mill on the hogsmill river the only one of its type in surrey. an event at the fair was advertised in the local paper, for the sum of one penny , you could have 3 throws in an attempt to dislodge a coconut from its stick. If succesful you won the dislodged coconut. the coconuts of course having been sourced from the local mill.
coconuts during the 16th and early 17th century had an exotic appeal. cups with coconuts mounted in silver or silver gilt were fashionable rarities in the UK and western europe. at the time the coconut was seen as equally extraordinary and rare as a nautilus shell or imported pottery and porcelain and was held in equal high esteem. the coconuts exotic charecteristic has remained even to the modern day, though more so as an ingredient in a cocktail.
3 front row sticks measure approx ... 900mm
1 backrow stick measures approx 1170mm
