Early 20th Century Aunt Sally English Fairground Game

Early 20th century hand carved pine fairground figure A rare piece of fairground art, in the form of a hand carved, painted polychrome Jeu de massacre fairground knock- down figure. ...

Early 20th century Auntie Sally English parlour game A rare early 20th Century example of an English hand-crafted Aunt Sally parlour game. Made from pine wood this item has 22 wooden throwing sticks, 1 aunt sally figure, several clay pipes...

Late 19th century English Folk Art Jig Doll We are proud to offer a late 19th century hand carved, painted Folk Art English jigger doll example. Jig dolls are traditional wooden or tin-plate 'toys' for adults or children. They are dolls with loose limbs that step dance...

Early 20th Century folk art fairground massacre knock down figure A folk art / primitive hand-crafted fairground knock down game figure. Constructed from pine and metal, hand painted detail with metal support hinges when the figure is knocked off...

Great vintage carnival midway ring toss game. Perfect wall art. Wood with original park paint surface. These appear to be one of a kind carnie made pieces fo...

An exceptionally scarce antique American Folk Art gambling triple stacked wooden arrow spindle spinning wheel gaming device from the late 19th / early 20th century. Believed to be a prototype or for a similar lesser known model of the important, very rare and unusual T. F. HOLTZ made "Three Arrow Trade Stimulator" circa 1896, (displayed in the American Antique Museum, reference L2016.2501.010) Theodore Holtz of San Francisco and early slot machine pioneer Charles Fey's partner in 1894, forming their first partnership as Holtz and Fey Electric Works. For this particular game, upon depositing your nickel and pressing the lever, three arrows will spin on the front dial and if all three stop on the same marker you win. Trade stimulators were countertop or freestanding amusement gaming machines widely used to encourage shoppers to indulge in a game of chance. They became popular in American saloon bar...

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...

Carved and painted wooden soldier whirligig. Early 20th century American. Soldier has a leather hat with wooden brim. Presented on simple custom museum...