Before electric hair clippers became popular Japanese barbers used manual clippers manufactured by a French company called "Bariquand et Marre." Today they still call their clippers Barikan. Barikan is actually the final figure in a series of four string figures. Preceding it are Toami (a fishing net), Koto (a Japanese Musical Instrument), and Hanmokku (a hammock).
This is a three dimensional string figure that is very easy to make. A second person is needed to complete the last step. Natives call this figure Hina's Basket.
Running Nose appears in a film about string figures. Honor Maude is responsible for transcribing methods from the film. It is quite a novel string figure that always seems to evoke two extreme reactions. Most observers find it either funny, or offensive.
This figure, which represents a pair of trees with their roots tangled together, is a variation of a traditional Kwakiutl string figure called Two Trees. The Kwakiutl people live on the northwest coast of North America, just south of the Alaskan panhandle.
Many people know of the two player game of Cat's Cradle, but in the realm of one player string figures there is also the lesser known Solo Cat's Cradle. In Solo Cat's Cradle, a single player starting from a certain string arrangement makes a series of other string figures. The last figure in the series returns the player to the initial string arrangement where the cycle can be repeated endlessly.
Here is a fun string figure with a surprise ending. The maker blows on the figure while extending it. The final figure represents flames erupting in a fire.
