The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

STATUE-MAKER

FOR THIS GAME ONE PERSON IS CHOSEN AS STATUE-MAKER AND ANOTHER AS
BUYER. THE STATUE-MAKER TAKES EACH OF THE OTHERS AND WHIRLS THEM
AROUND (AS IN CRACK THE WHIP) AND LETS THEM GO. THEY MUST STAY IN
WHATEVER POSITION THEY LAND. THE MAKER THEN INVITES THE BUYER TO
LOOK OVER HIS SELECTION OF STATUES, AND THEY GO AROUND STOPPING AT
EACH ONE. THE STATUE MUST EXPLAIN WHAT HE IS AND PERFORM SOME MOTION
REFLECTING THAT PERSONALITY WITHOUT MOVING FROM HIS POSITION (EXAMPLE
IF HE STOPPED IN A SQUATTING POSITION HE COULD EXPLAIN THAT HE IS A
DOG AND BARK AND SIMULATE WAGGING HIS TAIL). AFTER THE BUYER HAS
SEEN ALL OF THE STATUES HE CHOOSES ONE TO TAKE WITH HIM, THAT PERSON
THEN BECOMING THE BUYER FOR THE NEXT ROUND AND THE BUYER BECOMING
THE MAKER.

Submitter comment: THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW CHILDREN'S GAMES THAT I HAVE SEEN WHERE
IMAGINATION DETERMINES THE WINNER. IT IS ALSO DIFFERENT IN THAT
THE WINNER IS DETERMINED BY JUDGEMENT.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; WESTCHESTER

Date learned: CA00001960