Aunt Sally based on a blackface doll itself inspired by a low-life character named "Black Sal", which appeared in an 1821 series of novellas entitled "Life of London" by Pierce Egan, a contemporary of Charles Dickens. The game dates back to the 17th century, although the name "Aunt Sally" may have been a later addition. It was traditionally played in central English pubs and fairgrounds. An Aunt Sally was originally the modelled head of an old woman with a clay pipe in her mouth; the object was for players to throw sticks at the head in order to break the pipe. The
Portrait of an Old Woman with Folded Hands in the Gemäldegalerie. Since that painting has yet to be recovered after WWII, it is assumed lost. Other details may give clues, such as the black band may be a sign of mourning and the small wrist collars could mean the Mennonite faith. Portrait of an Old Woman with Folded Hands Portrait of an Old Woman is a c. 1640 portrait painting painted in the style of Jacob Adriaensz. Backer. It shows an old woman with folded hands. It is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Several portraits of older people of 17th-century Amsterdam have survived, and