This artifact was featured on our monthly social media series, "Museum Mystery Mondays."
This artifact is a tennis racket, specifically a wooden racket made by the Draper-Maynard Co., Plymouth, NH. This particular model is called “Princess” (see image for a close-up). Written on the handle are “Norman Mauney” and “Shelby, NC.”
Early tennis rackets evolved from 14th-century wooden hand paddles and real tennis rackets—an early racket game played by the rich and elite in 16th- and 17th- century Europe. Early tennis rackets were made of wood with long handles and a small head. The frame around the head is a racket press, designed to keep the wood from warping in heat and humidity.
