Earlier today we were invited to Bonhams to see something really very unusual indeed – the Summer Ice table. And no, it is not to serve drinks from – you use it to play curling in the summer time. (See our video below)
The Scottish Sale in April features a wide range of items but this one is quite different. The highly polished mahogany is in great condition even though it has been well used by out of season curlers throwing steel ‘stones’ towards a jack.
It is expected to fetch between £2-3,000 in the sale on 28 April. More details of this and other lots here.
The Summer Ice table allows curling fanatics to play in the summer months when ice is difficult to find except in a gin and tonic. The piece dates from around 1840 and although rarely played today this was a very popular game until around the time of the Second World War.
A team from Queich Curling Club in Kinross, Tish Alderson, Anne Hepburn, Cath Ballantyne and Claire Stevens, were on hand to show us how it works with very realistic shouts of Sweep, Sweep Sweep! resounding across the sale room.
The Winter Olympics open tomorrow in PyeongChang with Team GB curling including many Scots in their midst. More details here.
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