19th Century Abacus

Single dad dog family! Great carved wooden dogs from Guatemala. Anatomically correct details on faces and bodies! Dad measures 27x6.5x16.75H, female measu...

Old Chinese long elm bench with geometric multiple stretchers. Seat is framed. Some old green paint and faded barely visible red flowers on one long sid...

Old wide Elm bench with framed seat. Pretty detailed carved apron. Rustic and elegant. Sturdy and functional.

This is an all original, large scale Swedish Doug bowl from the 1800s. The bowl was carved out of a pine trunk and has developed a smooth patina throughout years of use. Original iro...

Rare Large Antigua Majolica ceramic baptismal bowl in glazed terracotta.

This listing is for two 19th century terra-cotta finials with old gesso. These sat on pre 1825, Spanish Colonial houses. Top lifts off. From the high Highlands of Guatemala. Old natu...

Charming group of three 19th century games comprising a dartboard, star ring toss and bagatelle boards, all in original paint and possessing both whimsy and good graphic design. S...

This 19th-century American folk art game board is a quintessential example of the ingenuity and aesthetic appeal found in traditional American crafts. Composed of alternating walnut ...

Late 19th to early 20th century bocce balls, France, set of three boxwood, iron and brass nails. The first ball has the letters PP in brass, the second ha...

POW Dominos 28 late 19th Century Napoleonic prisoner of war (POW) hand carved set of dominos, in a sliding painted lid box. Size in inches: BOX H 5” x W 1.8” x D 1.2” (28 Domi...

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...

19th C Original painted checkerboard.