ice skates - The virtual ice Skates museum - Holland curled ice skates 1

Holland ice skates with curled runners (1)

	*Fig.1: Holland curled runner skates, 1st quarter 19th century* The blades of these ice skates have been made of wrought iron. The slot at the rear originally has been circular but made rectangular at a later date. These data and the fiddle shaped platforms are reliable indications for their age. The mark is difficult to read but the name 'SCHULTE' cannot be missed. Manufacturer: ?.Schulte & Zonen, unknown town Mark: Technical data: total length: 38.5 cm; platform: length x width x height: 27 x 6 x 4 cm; blade: height x thickness: 22 x 4 mm; weight: 335 g.
*Fig.2: Holland curled runner skates, 1st quarter 19th century* Beautiful, elegant ice skate with a brass inlay in the form of a French lily. The brass inlay at the rear is not a decoration but a repair to prevent the wood from tearing. The lilies together with circular slots at the rear and the fiddle shaped platforms are reliable indications for their age. Manufacturer: unknown Model: Linschoten Mark: none Technical data: total length: 39 cm; platform: length x width x height: 28 x 6 x 2.7 cm; blade: height x thickness: 10 x 3.5 mm; weight: 225 g.
	*Fig.3: Holland curled runner skates, 2nd quarter 19th century* Sturdy, heavy built ice skates with a mighty curl. The circular slot at the rear and fiddle shaped platforms are reliable indications for their age. In 1975 the collection of The virtual Ice Skates Museum started with the purchase of this pair of skates. Manufacturer: unknown Mark: none Technical data: total length: 44 cm; platform: length x width x height: 31 x 6.5 x 3.8 cm; blade: height x thickness: 17 x 4 mm; weight: 400 g.
*Fig.4: Holland curled runner skates, 3rd quarter 19th century* The blacksmith's mark is well known. This makes it easy to date these skates. They were made by Theo Vlieg who was a blacksmith at Bodegraven between 1865 and 1896. Manufacturer: Th. Vlieg, Bodegraven Mark: Technical data: total length: 33.5 cm; platform: length x width x height: 24 x 6 3.5 cm; blade: height x thickness: 17 x 3.5 mm; weight: 260 g.

Curled runner skates
Until the end of the 19th century ice skating was just a pastime. Disciplines were not yet distinguished. Most people just pottered about on the ice. A few could scratch their initials and those of their lovers together with an arrowed heart in the ice surface. Some others could skate a fast track. Antique ice skates therefore 'have no sex', i.e. cannot be classified as speed or figure skates. They were ground straighter or rounder depending on the taste of the rider. Before the international style of figure skating emerged, in the Netherlands an ice skating style existed that is known as 'Dutch Roll'. As the charm of curled ice skates is inextricably bound up with the Dutch Roll and as the Dutch Roll like the 'English Style' can be seen as early forms of figure skating curled ice skates have been classified as 'figure skates'.

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