Title: Hunt The Slippers Artist: Thomas Rowlandson (British, London 1757–1827 London) Date: 1802 Public Domain
I was researching something else entirely and came upon a reference to the game Hunt the Slipper.
From Rowlandson’s picture from the Pic-Nic Society, we can see it was not reserved as a children’s game. However, its appearance in instructionals is largely targeted at children. I also read some references to this being a popular Christmas time game. Rowlandson’s provocative image suggests it may have been played among adults as an opportunity for closeness between the sexes, and even a bit of ribaldry as displayed by the matron guzzling a bottle and another showing off her stockings and undergarments. I would guess it would be as if a group of drinking adults decided to play spin the bottle–a little naughty, and a hilarity in doing something that is traditionally a child’s game.
There were some variations, including Hunt the Whistle:
Child, L. M. (1833). The Girl’s Own Book. Ireland: Clark Austin & Company.
This was not a Regency specific pastime, being popular well before the 19th century, but nonetheless was a game most would be familiar with.
