Carpet Balls

The Victorian Carpet Balls collection features antique stoneware balls originally used as a popular parlor game in the 18th and 19th centuries. Early carpet balls were hand-thrown and decorated with colorful crossbands, bull’s-eye motifs, stick-spatter designs, sponge decoration, and playful symbols such as hearts, crowns, shamrocks, and stars—making each example visually distinctive.

Carpet balls typically range in size from approximately 2½ to 3½ inches and vary in weight, reflecting their handmade nature and early production methods. While the game itself was played by gently rolling the balls along carpeted floors—often in long hallways or foyers of larger homes—today these pieces are widely collected for their decorative appeal.

Collectors and decorators alike display Victorian carpet balls in wooden bowls, baskets, or glass vessels, where their bold patterns and rich glazes create striking visual groupings. Whether appreciated for their history as an early indoor game or simply for their graphic charm, Victorian Carpet Balls offer a unique blend of folk art, play, and decorative design.