String Figure Magazine

Table of Contents - Volume 1, number 1 (March 1996) - 24 pages

• Getting Started - fingers, loops, strings, and commands (pages 1-3) - an

introduction to words and symbols commonly used in string figure instructions.
• A Waterhole (pages 4-5) - collected by Daniel Davidson from the Wardaman
people of the Northern Territory, Australia.

• Snake Climbing a Tree (pages 6-9) - collected by C.L.T. Griffith from the Twi-
speaking people of Ghana, Africa.

• Sneezing (pages 10-11) - collected by Julia Averkieva from the Kwakiutl people
of Vancouver Island, Canada. This is an action figure. The central vertical loop
pops up through the small hole near the bottom of the figure as the maker says
"Ah...choo!"
 • A Bird's Nest (pages 12-15) - collected by E. Evans-Pritchard from the Azande
people of the Sudan, Africa. One of many three-dimensional string figures.

• A House (pages 16-18) - invented by Joseph D'Antoni, Queens, New York. This
is a variation of the Oceanic figure "Two Chiefs."

• An "X" (pages 19-24) - invented by Yukio Shishido, Kyoto, Japan. Mr. Shishido
is famous for his geometric designs.

• Resources (inside back cover) - learning more about the string figures in this
issue.
• A Word about String... (inside back cover) - recommended string types and loop
sizes; how to join the ends without using a knot.

Last updated April 2, 1997

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 String Figure Magazine
Table of Contents - Volume 1, number 2 (June 1996) - 24 pages

• Getting Started - fingers, loops, strings, and commands (pages 1-4) - an

introduction to words and symbols commonly used in string figure instructions.
• Czechoslovakian Flag (pages 5-6) - invented by Jun Maekawa, Japan. Mr.
Maekawa has invented an entire series of flag string figures.

• Tree Hole (pages 7-8) - collected by Gunther Tessmann from the Chama people
of northeast Peru.

• Two Female Spirits (pages 9-11) - collected by Olaf Blixen from the people of
Easter Island (Rapa Nui). The two spirits are named "Kuha and Rati." They are
trying to seduce and capture the soul of Ure, the island's local prankster.

• A Flock of Kingfishers (pages 12-15) - collected by Sir Raymond Firth from the
Polynesian people of Tikopia.
 • Two Ptarmigans (pages 16-18) - collected by G. B. Gordon from the Inuit people
of the Bering Strait, Alaska. Ptarmigans are Arctic birds belonging to the grouse
family. The ptarmigan with a tail (center) is male; the other, female.

• An Bridge (pages 19-24) - invented by Mark Sherman, Pasadena, California. A

variation of the traditional Kwakiutl figure "Two Trees."

• Resources (inside back cover) - learning more about the string figures in this
issue.

Last updated April 2, 1997

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 String Figure Magazine
Table of Contents - Volume 1, number 3 (September 1996) - 24 pages

• Getting Started - fingers, loops, strings, and commands (pages 1-4) - an

introduction to words and symbols commonly used in string figure instructions.
• Spectacles for your Nose (pages 5-7) - invented by Udo Engelhardt, Berlin,
Germany.

• "Taro String Game" (pages 8-10) - collected by A. Kramer from the people of
the Truk Islands, Micronesia. A song is sung as the maker alternates between
"Taro" (left) and "Boat" (right).

• Predicting the Sex of an Unborn Child (pages 11-13) - collected by George

Foster from the Wailaki people of California. The outcome of this figure varies
each time you make it. Sometimes you get a "girl" (left) and sometimes you get a
"boy" (right).

• Two Islands Joined by a Log (pages 14-16) - collected by W.E. Roth from the
Warrau people of Guyana (left). View the figure from above to see the log (right).
 • Andromeda Galaxy (pages 17-20) - invented by Felix Paturi, Rodenbach,
Germany. This spectacular figure is a variation of "Sacred Circle," a Native
American design. Mr. Paturi has invented over thirty additional variations, all
equally as beautiful.

• The Fox and The Whale (pages 21-24) - collected by G.B. Gordon from the
Inuit people of King Island, Alaska. Drawing by Joseph D'Antoni, Queens, New
York. The "fox" is on the right, his tail high in the air. The "whale" (actually, his
carcass) is on the left. The fox has just finished nibbling on the whale's carcass
and is running away because someone is coming.

• Resources (inside back cover) - learning more about the string figures in this
issue.

Last updated April 2, 1997

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 String Figure Magazine
Table of Contents - Volume 1, number 4 (December 1996) - 24 pages

• Getting Started - fingers, loops, strings, and commands (pages 1-4) - an

introduction to words and symbols commonly used in string figure instructions.
• The Moon Gone Dark (pages 5-7) - collected by William A. Cunnington from
the Marungu people of Zaire, Africa. This short series portrays a total eclipse of
the moon. First, "Full Moon" is made (left). Then "Full Moon" is converted into
"Moon Gone Dark" (right). The second figure resembles the first, but is not as
round, thus symbolizing darkness.

• Sewing Machine (pages 8-9) - collected by H.R. Haefelfinger from a school girl
of Basel, Switzerland. This is a splendid action figure! The central V-shaped loop
represents the needle of the sewing machine. To make the needle bob up and
down, the forearms are pivoted rapidly (left and right images).

• Wheelbarrow (pages 10-12) - invented by Carey C.K. Smith, Stratford, New

Zealand. This is a wonderfully realistic three-dimensional figure. Shown here are
a side view (left) and top view (right).

• Erupting Volcano (pages 13-16) - collected by Raul Martinez-Crovetto from the

Araucano people of Northern Patagonia, Argentina. This is another three-
dimensional figure (two views are shown here). The twisted loops emanating
from the cone represent smoke.
 • Two Women Cook Cabbage (pages 17-20) - collected by Christa de Coppet
from the 'Are 'Are people of the Solomon Islands. The central diamond represents
the cooking pot. The vertical loops on either side represent the two women.

• A Dog With Large Ears (pages 21-24) - collected by Diamond Jenness from the
Copper Eskimos of Canada. Drawing by Joseph D'Antoni, Queens, New York. To
make the dog run, the maker pulls on the strings held by the right hand. The dog
then slides to the left along the frame strings.

• Resources (inside back cover) - learning more about the string figures in this
issue.

Last updated April 2, 1997

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 String Figure Magazine
Table of Contents - Volume 2, number 1 (March 1997) - 24 pages

• Getting Started - fingers, loops, strings, and commands (pages 1-4) - an

introduction to words and symbols commonly used in string figure instructions.
• Nose Slip Trick (pages 5-6) - collected by Marcel Griaule from the Dogon people
of Mali, Africa. Although first described in 1938 by a French anthropologist, this
trick was recently shown to ISFA member Sam Cannarozzi Yada during his
travels in northern Africa. The maker was an old musician from the National
Folklore Ensemble of Mali. Sam likes this trick because it reminds him of an old
French expression -- "It was so easy I could do it with two fingers up my nose!"

If the trick is set up properly (left), the string will slip off the hands when pulled
upward (center). If set up incorrectly, the strings won't slip off (right).

• Little Girl with Pigtails (pages 7-9) - a traditional Japanese string figure
described by Hiroshi Noguchi, Tokyo. After completing the weaving process, the
maker lays the figure on a flat surface and arranges it.

• The Sandsnipe (pages 10-13) - collected by Harry and Honor Maude from the
people of Kiribati, Micronesia. Sandsnipes (sandpipers) are shore birds that feed
on fish. In this series of four designs many magical transformations take place as
a result of the asymmetric opening.
 The four designs are: (1) Catching Kingfish - the long hanging loop represents the
lower bill of the Sandsnipe, which is used to snatch up fish; (2) Head of the
Sandsnipe Hanging Down - a great representation of a seabird in flight; (3) Head
of the Sandsnipe Erect - another splendid representation of a hovering seabird; (4)
Flight of the Vanquished or Four Sandsnipes Flying Away - the diamonds slide to
the left as the hands are separated.

• A Toad and A Man (pages 14-16) - collected by Julia Averkieva from the
Kwakiutl people of Vancouver Island, Canada. In this Native American figure, the
zig-zag design on the right represents the legs of a toad; the crooked design on the
left represents a man.

• A Swan (pages 17-21) - collected by Diamond Jenness from the Mackenzie Delta
Inuit (Eskimos) of Canada. This is certainly one of the most realistic string figures
ever collected.

• Sun (pages 22-24) - collected by Honor Maude from the people of Nauru Island,
Micronesia. Drawing by Joseph D'Antoni, Queens, New York. This design is
widely known and can be made using a variety of methods (see "Tree Hole" June
 1996 issue, and "Moon" December 1996 issue). Curiously, it is not known among
the Eskimos.

• Resources (inside back cover) - learning more about the string figures in this
issue.

Last updated April 2, 1997

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 String Figure Magazine
Table of Contents - Volume 2, number 2 (June 1997) - 24 pages

• Getting Started - fingers, loops, strings, and commands (pages 1-4) - an

introduction to words and symbols commonly used in string figure instructions.
• Catching a Cockroach (pages 5-6) - collected by Peter H. Buck from the people
of Samoa, South Pacific.

This simple figure is a "catch" requiring the finger of a second player. Your
friend's finger represents the cockroach.

Without warning, release the index loops and extend the figure sharply. You just
caught a cockroach!

• A Hammock (pages 7-8) - collected by James Hornell from a Muhammadan boy

of Zanzibar Island, Tanzania.

You can rock the hammock by pivoting your wrists!

• Full Sun (pages 9-12) - collected by G.A.V. Stanley from the Aborigines of North
Queensland, Australia.
 In this net-like figure, the central diamond represents the Sun; the other strings
represent rays.

The sun can be made to "set" by releasing the index loops and repeating the
extension.

• Two Eyes (pages 13-15) - collected by James Hornell from the Kru people of
Liberia, Africa.

The index fingers are inserted into the design to improve the symmetry.

• Eskimos in a Dancehouse (pages 16-19) - collected by Guy Mary-Rousselière

from the Inuit people (Eskimos) of Pelly Bay, NW Territories, Canada.

The dancehouse is rectangular. The loops encircling the lower frame string
represent women; the loops encircling the upper frame strings represent men. In a
traditional Inuit dancehouse (qagge), the people sing and dance to the beat of a
drum. The free loop near the left hand represents the drum.
 • Three Egyptian String Tricks (pages 20-24) - collected by William Cunnington
from boys living near Lake Birket el Qurun. Drawings by Joseph D'Antoni,
Queens, New York.

Although not as numerous as string figures, string tricks are found almost
everywhere string figures are found. By their very nature, string tricks are
intended to surprise, amaze, confuse, entertain, or perplex the spectator. These
three simple tricks have no names. Only the penultimate stage of each trick is
shown here.

• Resources (inside back cover) - learning more about the string figures in this
issue.

Last updated July 7, 1997

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