Galerie Martynoff Paris Folk Art

Very early American wooden games board; probably the oldest I have handled, this dates to about circa 1835 and exhibits the markings of a typical cottage industry type manufacture (not unlike very early Noah's Arks). Obviously entirely hand crafted; measurements are not exactly square (left to right; top to bottom), probably made of a local soft wood, and hand painted with squares not perfectly delineated. Black light and "loop" inspection reveals age crazing and original paint that, in conjunction with original wear and no attempt to touch up, dates it to the early 19th century. Most definitely American, as the last thing an English immigrant would have brought to America at that time would have been a game. When closed, or in the folding position, the board game simulates and is made to look like two books resting side by side (see images), and thusly, was made to sit on a book shelf, either horizontally or vertically; and to be pulled out to play games when desired, which would have been either the game of checkers (draughts), chess, or backgammon. The board opens up to a two sided game option. On one side is the proverbial 64 square (English/ American version) of chess or checkers; and on the other side is a backgammon board. Both sides are hand painted in gold and black, with a rust colored border around the checkerboard. The interior backgammon play area is also black and gold with the same color rust area to the central part. Nail hinges in the center frame, pivot the two sides to open, while a leather covering borders the edge trim, which is 50% lacking on the hinge side. I state the condition to be good, considering it's age, it's use, and the fact that it is still very "usable" and, if taken care of, will probably continue to be so for nearly another 200 years! The checkers, (12) black pieces and (12) yellow (the correct numbers) are hand carved in wood and hand painted. The backgammon pieces (stored in period wooden box) contain 14 yellow hand painted and carved pieces and (13) black ones. (15) of each color are used to play backgammon (simply use the checkers, which are just about the same size (see images) to make up the difference. Most antique game boards...

The Link Candle Holder is a modular system that can be expanded to any size, available in cast brass. Sold as a set of five. (not available in cast ...

Primitive hand-carved Folk Art bull made of wood. Great hand work and scale. One Horn has a chip. Great sculptural piece.

Classic and well-modelled sculpture of a dancing faun.

Tim Vranken is a Belgian furniture designer who focuses on solid, handmade furniture. Throughout his designs the use of pure materials and honest natural processes are paramount. The...

Mid-20th Century Globular Vessel, Mangbetu People, D. R. Congo An unusually large and striking non-figurative vessel from the Mangbetu people, comprised of six lobes joined to a c...

Our backgammon set, a must of board games. Expertly crafted with canaletto walnut wood and dressed on the outside with a textured calfskin leather covering, its interior delivers ...

We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original Victorian Antique Jaques of London faux leather folding book chessboard with the original Staunton Chess set dating to circa 1880, a travel chess set in the form of checkers pieces and lastly a Jacques of London Rosewood Chess clock...

House of Cards designed by Charles and Ray Eames by The Museum of Modern Art, New York in 1986. This special picture deck of stacking cards celebrates familiar objects, animals, and ...

Malachite chessboard This chess game comes from Congo in the 1960s. Each piece is meticulously hand-carved from two exquisite, contrasting materials: gleaming malachite and luxurious...

Poto African sword, Congo Africa on stand. A forged iron sword with fine incised design, inlaid brass dots, overlaid brass strips, finely carved wood ha...

A masterpiece of style and design. Pinetti Tic Tac Toe, our first addition to our board games collection. A canaletto walnut wood box covered with l...