Lot 323: A Vintage Empire Wooden Badminton Set Housed in a Custom Storage Chest
A complete vintage badminton set constructed from wood, natural fibres, and metal. The set features a pair of rackets with laminated wooden frames and natural-coloured strings. One racket bears a printed white logo on the throat featuring a stylized bird followed by the name EMPIRE in block capitals. The rackets are designed with extended wooden shafts and octagonal grips terminating in dark-stained butt caps. The collection includes a large assortment of traditional feathered shuttlecocks with cork bases. A dark-coloured mesh net with a light canvas header is included, partially contained within a clear plastic bag. The set is accompanied by two long, cylindrical wooden net support poles. The entire collection is housed in a bespoke, rectangular wooden storage chest with internal supports and a hinged lid. The chest is fitted with metal latches and hinges.
Condition report:
The set shows evidence of age and regular sporting use throughout. The racket frames exhibit surface scuffing and minor abrasions consistent with play (photo 1). While the strings remain intact, they show signs of age-related tension loss. The shuttlecocks show varying degrees of feather loss, breakage, and general discolouration (photo 1). The net and plastic packaging show signs of wear and creasing. The wooden storage chest displays a weathered surface with scattered scuffs, scratches, and oxidation to the metal hardware (photo 1). No measurements are available as no scale is present in the images.
Share this lot: